Cyprus’ President Nicos Anastasiades and Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas met on Friday in Ramallah and reiterated their support to a two-state solution to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, based on the 1967 borders.
President Anastasiades visited the Mausoleum at Yaser Arafat’s grave and laid a wreath, before being officially received at Al Muqaata, the Palestinian President’s office and the headquarters of Yasser Arafat.
The two Presidents inspected a Guard of Honor and later on they had a private meeting followed by expanded talks between the delegations of the two sides. Cyprus’ Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides and Government Spokesman Nicos Christodoulides also attended.
The talks were followed by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding for cooperation on Water Resources Management and an agreement for the establishment of a joint intergovernmental committee.
The Memorandum and the Agreement were signed, on the part of the Republic of Cyprus, by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Ioannis Kasoulides and on the Palestinian side they were signed by the President of the Water Authority Mr Mazen Ghoneem and the Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr Riyad Maliki, respectively.
In his statements, Abbas said that the visit by the President of Cyprus is greatly appreciated and respected by the Palestinian people. “We are quite confident that this visit will contribute to establishing and enhancing the foundations of cooperation and friendship between our countries which have a promising and great future,” he added.
President Abbas added that with President Anastasiades they had “good talks on the overall developing situation in Palestine and the difficult unbearable and unacceptable conditions within which our people live due to the continued Israeli occupation of our country and the escalation of the aggressive practices of its settlers against our property and holy sites.”
He added that “these practices have brought our youth in a state of despair, frustration and distress,” due to the Israeli uncompromising and stubborn stance.
Abbas expressed his appreciation over the positions of the EU, and the recommendations of the European Parliament to recognize the state of Palestine.
He noted the importance of an increased European role in finding a political solution that is conducive to ending Israeli occupation and finding a two state solution.
“We do not want negotiations just for the sake of negotiations and we cannot continue to unilaterally implement the signed agreements between the Palestinian and the Israeli side,” he pointed out.
He added that with President Anastasiades they discussed regional issues as well as terrorism and extremism and reiterated their position in favor of political solutions of the existing crisis.
On his part, President Anastasiades referred to the historical ties between Cyprus and Palestine and said that the long-standing joint aim is to continue enhancing their co-operation at the bilateral level.
He said that the establishment of a Palestine – Cyprus Intergovernmental Committee reflects the political determination of the two sides to meet regularly and deepen their cooperation.
Referring to the Memorandum on water management, the President said that Cyprus will share its knowledge and provide expertise with the aim of drawing a master plan for the management of water resources of the West Bank, including future needs both for agriculture and household uses.
On the Middle East Peace Process, Anastasiades said that they shared the view with Abbas that the preservation of the status quo in the Holy Sites of Jerusalem is vital and called for restraint on all sides and for measures to de-escalate the tension.
“Restoration of calm and stability is of utmost importance so that negotiations for a final settelement of the Palestinian issue based on the relevant UN Resolutions, can resume as soon as possible,” he noted.
He spoke further of the “unacceptable existing state of affairs”, which has not only negative repercussions to the Palestinian and Israeli people, but to region.
“I repeated Cyprus’ principled stance in support of a just and comprehensive resolution of the Palestinian issue, based on the two state solution, with the State of Israel and an independent, democratic, sovereign and viable State of Palestine, living side by side in peace, security and mutual recognition” he underlined.
The President also conveyed the EU’s commitment and support towards resuming negotiations and characterized the appointment of an EU special representative for the Middle East Peace Process as “an apt demonstration of the EU’s decisiveness to positively facilitate developments”.
He expressed also the view that the EU should take a more active and visible role in the Middle East Peace Process and said that he will keep urging the EU leaders to receive President Abbas and Prime Minister Netanyahu at separate European Summits.
Anastasiades said moreover that he briefed President Abbas about settlement talks in Cyprus and underlined his strong commitment to work tirelessly with the leader of the Turkish Cypriot community, to reach viable solution, safeguarding human rights and fundamental freedoms of all Cypriots.
He conveyed deep appreciation for Palestine’s principled position on the Cyprus issue and the support to ongoing efforts.
The President concluded by saying that he looked forward in reciprocating the hospitality in the near future.