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Ιt is a truly great pleasure to
be visiting Lisbon, and to be meeting my good friend and colleague Augusto,
particularly given that my visit coincides with the assumption by Portugal of
the Presidency of the Council of the European Union for the fourth time.
Let me to congratulate you, and
assure you that Cyprus is committed to being a source of support within the
Council. To this end, we aim for an open and honest rapport with you throughout
this period.
Your Presidency comes at a time
of a greatly challenging European agenda. The pandemic has driven our
societies and economies to the edge, putting in focus fundamental EU
principles such as solidarity.
Dear Augusto,
Cyprus and Portugal share
long-standing ties of friendship and have always enjoyed excellent relations,
both at the level of Government and of our people. This is a relationship we
value immensely, and which we jointly aspire to further strengthen.
Today, we held constructive
consultations, reviewing the architecture of our cooperation and specific
ways to further enhance relations, both bilaterally and at EU level. And I am
very pleased to attest that our convergence of views with Portugal, on an
array of areas, is clear.
We underscored our desire to
create synergies, and building on the momentum of this visit we expressed our
joint commitment to work together closely in an array of fields, including
trade and investment, education and culture. As a first step, we have decided
that can we organise a bilateral Digital Roundtable Discussion with the
participation of the main economic and business stakeholders from Cyprus and
Portugal, such as Chambers of Commerce, Investment Promotion Agencies and
Business Associations.
Additionally, we propose to
explore cooperation in the area of Research & Innovation by promoting
collaborations between Universities and Research Institutions, fully
capitalizing on the opportunities offered by EU programmes. We will also work
on the finalisation of the pending documents in the areas of Security (on the
Exchange and Mutual Protection of Classified Information)and Εducation.
When it comes to EU matters, I
would like to reiterate that we consider Portugal as one of our most reliable
friends and partners. We may be at the two geographical extremes of our
continent, yet we have mutual interests and concerns.
In this context, during our
deliberations, I had the opportunity to reaffirm our support to the
priorities set by the Portuguese Presidency. More specifically, we reaffirmed
our common belief in a strong EU, based on its fundamental principles and
values of democracy and solidarity.
We concurred on the crucial
importance of working closely together, with a view to effectively tackling
major European challenges, including the management of migratory pressures
and the measures we need to adopt; the developments on Brexit Deal recently
reached; as well as the negotiations concerning the Multi-Annual Financial
Framework. As to the latter, the Portuguese Presidency is expected to focus
on the completion of the legislative framework allowing our authorities to
complete the programming documents, the soonest that would allow the flowing
of long-awaited funds to our economies.
To this end, Cyprus is fully committed
in advancing the employment and social agenda and the Portuguese Presidency
can count on our support on the relevant legislative work. We look forward to
the Social Summit to be hosted in Porto, in early May, and the very important
impetus it is expected to give to the European Pillar of Social Rights.
Moreover, we had the
opportunity to discuss the pandemic and its impact not only on our countries
but also on a global level. We also exchanged views on a number of regional
issues, on EU-Turkey relations, as well as international developments of
common interest, including the Southern Neighbourhood.
I also briefed the Foreign
Minister on the enhancement of our relations with countries in the Eastern
Mediterranean and the Greater Middle East, a region of particular importance,
including from a geostrategic perspective. It is precisely for this reason
that the EU ought to be more present, and to have a more active role in this
region, that we must not forget, is the EU’s neighbourhood.
Last but not least, I had
the opportunity to thoroughly brief Augusto on the latest developments on the
Cyprus Problem – a European Problem at heart - and particularly on the need
for Turkey to avoid actions that undermine the prospect for the resumption of
meaningful negotiations, such as its decision to open the fenced area of
Varosha and its illegal actions within Cyprus’ maritime zones.
I reiterated that our side
remains steadfastly committed to the resumption of negotiations, fully
supporting the UN Secretary General’s initiative in this regard, for a
comprehensive settlement in line with UN Security Council Resolutions, with
international and EU law. I also expressed Cyprus’s sincere appreciation for
Portugal’s solidarity and support in our efforts to reunify Cyprus. It is our
joint belief that the EU provides the best guarantee for a reunited Cyprus;
in this regard the active involvement of the EU in the negotiating process is
of utmost importance.
Dear Augusto,
In closing, I would like to
thank you for your hospitality, and congratulate you once again on the recent
assumption of the rotating Presidency of the Council of the European Union. I
look forward to working closely with you over the coming period to drive
forward our bilateral and EU agenda.
Obrigado.
(II)
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