President of the European Parliament Martin Schulz expressed optimism that one day soon, Cyprus will be a reunited country, pointing out that nothing is easy but everything is possible.
Schulz was speaking at an official dinner hosted by Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades, at the Presidential Palace, in his honor.
President Schulz said, that he is in Cyprus “to express on behalf of the members of the European Parliament, on behalf of the European Union the full and unconditional support for your country.”
He said that “as a citizen of a country which had the privilege to be, after 40 years of division, unified in a moment where nobody expected that it is possible” and “now we are 25 years after the reunification of Germany nothing is impossible. Everything is possible. Nothing is easy, everything is difficult.”
Schulz said that “it is not only my deep conviction that everything is possible, it is an historic experience. It may last a long time but sooner or later you can’t go against history and, therefore, I am optimistic that one day, I hope soon, your country will be a reunited country.”
The President of the European Parliament also noted that after his meeting today with the political parties from both communities, he had the feeling that “nothing is easy, everything is difficult. And nevertheless I insist that everything is possible.”
He added that “your island is amid a very turbulent region. A sustainable stability in your country is an enormous contribution to security for Europe and the Middle East, for the Mediterranean, for the whole world.”
Concluding, Schulz said that “today, I witnessed your very efficient management concerning the hijacked plane. We are grateful that it ended as it did.”
On his part, President Anastasiades said that “it is a great pleasure to welcome President Schulz and the members of his accompanying delegation in Cyprus and to the Presidential Palace.
During President Schulz visit we had the opportunity to discuss the latest developments in the negotiations for reaching a comprehensive and viable settlement of the Cyprus problem that will reunite Cyprus and its people in a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation, Anastasiades said. We have also agreed that the Cyprus problem is a European problem and that the solution should be in line with the principles and values of the European Union, safeguarding the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all the people of Cyprus, he added.
The European Parliament has played a vital role in establishing the promotion of human rights and democracy as an objective of the European Union. In this respect, the presence of President Schulz in Cyprus at this critical juncture of the negotiations is extremely important.
This year, Cyprus commemorates the 12-year anniversary of its accession to the European Union which was the most important achievement since the declaration of our country’s independence. Our membership in a political union of developed and democratic states, gave us the opportunity both as a society and as a state to enter into a process of reforms and modernization based on the EU acquis.
During these years, unfortunately, we have also experienced an unprecedented economic crisis that hit our country. Nevertheless, today, I can proudly and confidently state that the Cypriot economy is emerging back to recovery, faster than anyone could have predicted. We have shown to our European partners that Cypriots are turning our economic challenges into an opportunity, an achievement that was reached with vision, detailed planning and prudence.
European Union is faced today with two major crises; the scourge of terrorism and the mass refugee flow into the EU. I will not get into details now concerning these two critical challenges but I will only say that European solidarity can work if all member states commit to it and defend our values and achievements.
President Anastasiades thanked President Schultz for his personal interest and for his strong support to the efforts for the reunification of our country.