King of The Netherlands praises Cyprus' role in the region

King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands has praised Cyprus' role as a bridge for Europe at the crossroads of the Middle East and North Africa, noting that Cyprus understands the problems and issues in this volatile region.

The King was speaking on Tuesday, 4 March at the Presidential Palace in Nicosia, during a joint press conference with the President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, after their talks, in the framework of the state visit that the Dutch royal couple is paying to Cyprus.

He referred to their first meeting a year ago when they discussed Cyprus' unique position as the most southeasterly point in the European Union.

"Your country is a cultural crossroad and a bridge to the Middle East and North Africa. A beacon that represents Europe in the eastern Mediterranean. Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Israel, the Palestinian territories and Egypt are your neighbors. You understand the issues at play. You are aware of the many complex challenges, including the need to keep migration flows under control. You're doing your utmost to contribute to stability security and mutual understanding in the region", he said.

King Willem-Alexander noted that these efforts are immensely valuable both to the Netherlands and the whole of Europe, adding that peace and security are fragile and that is why "we cherish our friendship with you and work together to promote freedom, democracy, human rights and good governance".

He referred to Cyprus' turbulent history and its tragic division in 1974, pointing out that so many families still bear the scars to this day and the emotions run deep.

"Our hearts go out to everyone who is still living with the effects today. Dialogue is essential for the future of everyone in Cyprus. And Netherlands supports the UN process aimed at achieving lasting solutions", he noted.

He furthermore said that it is  a hopeful sign to see that members of the different communities are themselves taking steps to get to know and understand one another better. Κing of the Netherlands also referred to the The Home for Cooperation, located in the buffer zone , describing it as a place where young Cypriots from both sides of the Green Line can discover how much they have in common.

The Dutch royal couple will be visiting the Home for Cooperation on Wednesday and will have a chance to talk to alumnis of Dutch universities.

President points to further enhancement of bilateral ties

In his statements, Cyprus President said that the bilateral relationship stands at a very high level and the royal couple's visit is a testament to that effect, but also proof "of our mutual will to further enhance ties.

He referred to the discussions the delegations of the two sides had earlier which explored ways to deepen cooperation in areas such as the economy, defence, migration, agriculture, education, and culture.

He said that in the education sector, in recent years the number of Cypriots studying in the Netherlands has risen sharply, and each year 700-800 young Cypriots move to the Netherlands to study.

"We believe this opens up the possibility to enhance cooperation between our academic and research institutions, and we agreed that our governments should work on this.  We also have a long-standing archaeological cooperation. We are currently hosting Dutch archaeologists from Leiden university, which is also His Majesty’s alma mater, working in Paphos," he noted. He also referred to their visit on Wednesday to Choirokitia settlement where they will witness firsthand, as he noted, the island’s ancient history.

As regards defence, the President noted that the two countries have assisted one another with the evacuation of citizens from Sudan and the Middle East, and working on further enhancing the bilateral security cooperation.

As regards agriculture, he noted that the Netherlands has developed one of the most advanced agricultural sectors in the world, based on technology, innovation, and sustainability, and referred to the Majesties' visit later on Tuesday to potato fields and processing plants in the districts of Larnaca and Famagusta, which use seeds from the Netherlands.   

The President expressed satisfaction for the fact that Cyprus hosts several Dutch multinational enterprises, such as Shell, which is also active in Cyprus' Exclusive Economic Zone. "We are also encouraged by the 14% increase in Dutch tourists’ arrivals last year. Furthermore, our recent bilateral Double Taxation agreement contributes to enhanced interaction between our business communities", he said.

On migration, the President said that he informed the King of the measures the government has undertaken since assuming office, resulting in a sharp decrease of arrivals and a significant increase of returns.

"Migration is a European challenge that requires a European response, both with the Pact implementation but also on the external dimension where we need to tackle the root causes, including by building partnerships with countries of origin and transit", he said.

As regards the Cyprus problem in view of the upcoming meeting under the auspices of the UN in Geneva mid March, the President expressed hope that it will pave the way for the resumption of full-fledged negotiations, in accordance with the agreed UN framework.

"We highly appreciate the principled stance of the Netherlands in this regard. Tomorrow morning, we will escort Their Majesties to a short visit to the Green Line," he said.

The talks, the President added, also included other common challenges, such as the situation in Ukraine and the Middle East.

He expressed hope that their dynamic bilateral partnership will continue to prosper and evolve, based on the joint commitment to European principles and international law.

Discussions of delegations

In a brief statement before the start of the expanded talks President Christodoulides said that they can advance even more their cooperation, adding that they are both members of the European family and at this challenging time it is very important to show in action their unity and strength it in facing all these challenges.

King Willem-Alexander said that they cherish very much the bilateral relations with Cyprus, but also their relation as European partners. He said that Cyprus is the most southeastern European partner, and a beacon of stability and democracy in a volatile region. 

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. 

Also read: Cyprus-Netherlands to enhance bilateral relations President and King pledge

Also read: King and Queen of the Netherlands meet with President Christodoulides, First Lady (pics)

Also read: The King and Queen of The Netherlands in Cyprus for a state visit

(Source: CNA)