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«Cyprus is Europe's primary
gateway to the Middle East, Asia and Africa. And as we can see today, it is
also the departure point for the critical “Amaltheia” initiative. What
happens here is a precise translation of our European values. Solidarity.
Peace. United in the defence of our common humanity.
The situation on the ground
remains desperate. Too many innocent people have died. Just this morning we
woke up to the tragic news of more aid workers killed. We must use all our
resources to get answers, to bring in more relief. Humanitarian organisations
like World Central Kitchen (WCK) must be protected.
Dear Nikos, we welcome the
“Amaltheia” initiative, and we very much appreciate your leadership and your
personal commitment to make this a tangible success, a reality. Our approach
is to get more help into Gaza, save innocent lives, and advance the need for
a two-state solution that gives Palestinians a true perspective while giving
Israel security.
The European Parliament will
keep pushing for a cease fire, as we have been doing for months. We will keep
seeking the return of the remaining hostages. We will continue to emphasise
that there can be no prospect of peace, security, stability and prosperity
for Gaza as long as Hamas operates with impunity.
We will continue to advocate
for a settlement that empowers peaceful, legitimate Palestinian leadership
and one that ensures lasting stability in the region.
I think this is just one
example of the leadership Europe and the world has seen from Cyprus, and it
proves the point that in Europe we know no big and small leadership and ideas
do not depend on geography. And Cyprus proves this every day here, and particularly
through its members in the European Parliament.
On the Cyprus problem, dear
President, let me reassure you and reiterate that you have the full support
of the European Parliament to find a way forward under the UN plan. And your
personal commitment and leadership on this is very much appreciated.
On migration next week, we have
a big unprecedented legislative package that will hopefully go through the
European Parliament that was asked from us, from citizens, including from
Cyprus in 2019, when we ran for the last European elections. With this legislative
package, we will be able to answer both in the short and medium term, but
also hopefully in the longer term, the individual national challenges that
countries such as yours are facing in regard to migration.
We are two months away from the
European Parliament elections. This is the reason why I am also here, is that
your vote, your voice matters. Do not let anyone else decide for you. This
election is way too important for that. The next few years will be decisive
for Europe and for both sides of our Mediterranean. And I am confident that
European citizens in Cyprus, in every member state, will respond. So, dear
President, dear Nikos, thank you again for Cyprus's leadership, and thank you
for keeping European values at heart. »
Q: Is last night’s tragic event a setback
for the “Amaltheia” initiative since WCK already announced its decision to
pause all its activities, and is it too soon to talk about a third shipment?
President Christodoulides: More important is that the
humanitarian needs are there and the initiative will continue. And, as I
mentioned before, we are also in contact with the United States, as it is
very well-known. They prepare the peer in Gaza. And I think, before the end
of the month, we will be in a position to have more humanitarian assistance
sent to Gaza. We have this unfortunate incident. I express again the
condolences of the Republic of Cyprus. But the “Amaltheia” initiative will
continue as a humanitarian need is there.
Q: How will the European Parliament
respond to the today's tragic events? Shouldn't there have been more decisive
actions towards protecting humanitarian aid workers and people on the ground?
President Metsola: Absolutely. So we will convene as a
plenary in the next few days. You will recall that the European Parliament
has, since the very beginning of the conflict, not shied away from being the
first institution to call for a cease fire. To call for the return of all
hostages with great concern for the number of innocent lives that have been
lost. And today's latest tragedy being an addition to the grave concern that
we continue to shine a spotlight on. We have also been in contact with the
journalists on the ground. In my talks with the United Nations
Secretary-General, the week before last, this centred around how we as a
European Parliament can continue to call not only with language, but also in
pushing our country's leadership in order to speak to all the actors in the
region, in order for there to be a cease fire, the hostilities must stop.
What happened today is just the last instalment of yet another tragedy that
can only increase as the days go by. The situation is extremely desperate.
(RM/NZ/EP)
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