Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides has described US Vice President Joe Biden`s visit to Cyprus this week as historic and especially positive for Cyprus, noting that the US are interested in the achievement of the solution of the Cyprus issue.
Speaking at a press conference at the Foreign Ministry, Kasoulides said that Biden`s visit was symbolic, demonstrating the US interest for a solution of the Cyprus issue.
Kasoulides stressed Cyprus` upgraded role in the region of the Eastern Mediterranean and recalled that Biden described Cyprus as a key player in the wider region and a strategic partner of the US.
These developments, he went on to say, are the result of the Foreign Ministry`s systematic work for the last 15 months.
As regards expectations that during his visit to Cyprus, the US Vice President would announce an agreement on the fenced off city of the Turkish occupied town of Famagusta, called Varosha, Kasoulides said that unfortunately, due to the Turkish stance, no agreement could be achieved, but pointed out that efforts continue.
Biden`s intention, he said, was to proceed with the declared position of President Obama to begin the first steps of confidence building measures. During the first steps, experts would enter the fenced off city of Varosha, (called ghost town) and study how infrastructure work could begin, whether buildings are safe to live in so that the legitimate residents of Varosha (vast majority Greek Cypriot refugees), can return to their properties. In addition, experts could undertake studies for the upgrading of the Famagusta port, he said.
Kasoulides said that the failure to reach an agreement on Varosha was due to some demands of the Turkish Cypriot side, which were “unacceptable”.
He explained that the Turkish Cypriot side demanded that Turkish Cypriots are included in the team of international experts to enter Varosha, while excluding Greek Cypriots.
“We never demanded that the experts are either Greek Cypriots or Turkish Cypriots, but we can not accept that Greek Cypriots are forbidden in an area which is purely Greek”, he said, adding that the Turkish Cypriot side had raised also other demands, which were backed by Ankara.
He expressed his disappointment with Ankara`s stance, saying that while Turkish officials declare their willingness for a solution of the Cyprus problem, at the same time they do not prove in deeds their will.
The Cypriot Foreign Minister recalled that Biden has said that he remains a supporter of this effort, which will not be abandoned.
Replying to questions, Kasoulides said that the optimism expressed by the US Vice President as regards the efforts to solve the Cyprus problem and the implementation of Confidence Building Measures, is based on the fact that new developments are taking place.
First of all, he added, the basis of the Cyprus negotiations has been clarified and there are direct talks with Ankara. In addition, Cyprus is gaining increasing importance in the region as a factor of stability and peace.
Referring to the energy sector, Kasoulides said that Cyprus can be used to transfer natural gas from neighboring countries too.
He added that the government`s policy remains that the main method of exporting natural gas is the establishment of an LNG terminal.
The Minister said that because of the lower than expected amount of natural gas deposits in the Aphrodite block, the LNG terminal is for the moment not sustainable.
But he said that if the relevant companies decide that some deposits from the Israeli side can be added to Cyprus` quantities, then the LNG terminal will be considered to be sustainable and work can begin immediately.
“If this decision is not taken, then we will begin when ENI and TOTAL have published their results”, he went on to say.
Kasoulides pointed out that there should be other alternative solutions and did not exclude the possibility of a cooperation with Turkey provided that the Cyprus issue is solved.
The Foreign Minister also spoke about the new EU energy plans, which take into serious consideration the gas fields in the Eastern Mediterranean and stressed that through Cyprus, gas from the region can be transferred to Europe, either as permanent market, or during emergency situations.
Referring to Russia, he stressed that Cyprus` relations with Moscow have not changed and recalled that he was the first EU Foreign Minister to visit Russia amidst the crisis in the Ukraine and held a very cordial meeting with the Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, as he said.
Our relations with Russia, he pointed out, have not changed and said that Moscow respects Cyprus` right to exercise its foreign policy within the EU.
As regards the sanctions against Russia due to the crisis in the Ukraine, Kasoulides said that this issue was discussed during Biden`s visit and expressed hope that diplomatic efforts underway, bear fruit.
During Biden`s visit, Cyprus and the US expressed their positions on the issue of sanctions, he concluded.
Cyprus, an EU member state since May 2004, has been divided sine the summer of 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and since then occupy 37% of this Mediterranean island`s territory
