Cyprus issue is a European issue, Metsola said addressing the EP plenary

The Cyprus problem is a European issue and Europe must respond to it in a European way, the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, said addressing the Plenary session in Strasbourg.

The session included the marking of the 50th anniversary of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus and the continuous occupation of the country’s northern territory. Cypriot MEPs then addressed the Plenary on the same subject as well.

“This week, the European Parliament commemorates 50 sad years since the events of 20 July 1974 in Cyprus, the consequences of which are still being felt today,” she said, speaking on 17 July.

Metsola stressed that divisions have no place in our Europe. “That is why it is important to emphasise that this forced division of an EU Member State is not a Cyprus issue, but a European one and we must respond to it in a European way.”

She noted that in her first ever address as President of EP, she emphasised that Cyprus is not a forgotten corner of the EU, something she reiterated yesterday when she was reelected. “The European Union has been forged out of the painful history of our continent. Where there was once war, pain and bloodshed there are now meetings held in the spirit of cooperation,” she underlined.

Metsola noted that Europe has the power to heal. “The responsibility lies on us to use this experience to bring people together, to work towards a single sovereign, European, State. A bi-communal, bi-zonal federation in line with UN Security Council resolutions, Council conclusions and EU values.”

She added that on the occasion of this tragic anniversary, this Parliament’s message is that it will not turn away from Cyprus. “We are one. Cyprus’ challenges are our challenges, and Europe will never be whole while Cyprus remains divided,” she concluded.

She then gave the floor to Cypriot MEPs to make interventions on the matter. Loukas Fourlas, from EPP, asked his colleagues to stand “beside us in our effort to reunite and liberate our homeland, in our effort to live as free, equal European citizens in our homeland. The EU is our family, our support and our only hope. Colleagues, do not forget the invasion and occupation of Cyprus. 50 years is too long," he said.

Costas Mavrides, S&D, agreed with President Metsola that the Cyprus problem is a European one. He noted that a lasting and permanent solution to the Cyprus problem should be in line with UN Security Council resolutions and the European acquis and law. "Turkey has the key for the solution and EU has the leverage to exert pressure. That is what the European citizens of Cyprus expect from EU and from all of us."

Geadis Geadi, from ECR, called on MEPs at the dawn of July 20th to remember that some European citizens and some MEPs can move freely in all cities, villages and streets of the EU, without restrictions, to work wherever they want, but not in their own country. He asked for “the right to have a democratic European state, without racist divisions, support for Cyprus on a par with Ukraine, liberation from occupation, the right to live freely in our homeland, like all European citizens."

From the Left, Georgios Georgiou said that for many, including the EU itself, Turkey is valuable. However, he noted that it is more valuable for Europe to rise to the occasion and to uphold international law, to contribute to a peace in the region, to resume the talks from where they were left off in Crans Montana, to bring peace to our people, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, with a Bizonal Bicommunal Federation.”

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres appointed María Ángela Holguín Cuéllar of Colombia as his personal envoy for Cyprus, to assume a Good Offices role on his behalf and search for common ground on the way forward in the Cyprus issue. 

(Source: CNA)