Press Releases

I am exceptionally pleased to welcome my very good friend and esteemed colleague, Josep Borrell, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Spain, to Cyprus, and especially so here at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Nicosia.

Allow me this note - I consider Minister Borrell to be one of the wisest Foreign Ministers in Europe, and I always pay very close attention to his interventions at Foreign Affairs Councils. This is an additional reason that I am very happy for his visit to Cyprus.

With Josep, we had a very positive, productive, and forward-looking discussion on the full spectrum of our excellent bilateral relations. We also exchanged views on a broad range of topics of common interest and concern, including European, regional and international issues.

On bilateral cooperation, we noted with satisfaction that it is at a very high level, as is appropriate for two states that belong to the same family, that of the European Union. We share common values and aspirations in an array of fields, from foreign and security policy, to human rights, to climate change, and the future of the European Union, to which both our countries remain firmly committed.  

We examined ways in which we could strengthen our cooperation even further, in fields such as trade, investment and education. In this regard, we believe that the institutionalization of a bilateral consultation mechanism between the two Foreign Ministries could provide an important platform for discussions on how this could be achieved. I proposed the formulation of a roadmap or plan of action on developments we would like to see in our bilateral relations in the sectors I mentioned.

Moreover, as representatives of two of the EU’s Mediterranean member states, we exchanged information and ideas on how the EU and its member states can contribute more substantially and effectively to the promotion of peace and the strengthening of stability in our wider region.

In this context, I briefed the Minister on the trilateral cooperation mechanisms that Cyprus has established with countries in the Eastern Mediterranean region, which form part of the EU’s toolbox, and also serve EU’s interests, for example on energy security. These initiatives are designed to foster synergies and enhance dialogue and understanding and in this sense are beneficial to all parties involved, as well as to the broader region, the EU and its member states.

With Josep, I also had the opportunity to discuss a number of current issues on our European agenda, with a focus on Brexit, migration, as well as EU relations with candidate countries including Turkey.

With regard to migration, I conveyed our deep concern at the latest increase in numbers of migrants arriving in Cyprus and asylum seekers. Spain and Cyprus share the view that an effective implementation of the core principle of solidarity is imperative. We are in agreement that responsibility needs to be shared, in the context of Dublin Regulation, through a binding relocation mechanism which takes into consideration the integration capacities of each member state. At the same time we should work on effectively addressing the root causes of this crisis, as the only path to overcoming it. 

As you might expect, I briefed my Spanish colleague extensively on the latest developments with regard to the Cyprus problem. I shared with him our strong commitment to resuming negotiations as soon as possible. The status quo cannot be the solution of the Cyprus problem. I also underlined that reunited Cyprus must be a functional, effective EU member state, and a pre-requisite for this to be achieved is that the settlement is fully in line with EU law, values and principles. 

I also had the chance to brief the Minister on the exploration program in Cyprus’ Exclusive Economic Zone. This issue, as very clearly stated in the Declaration adopted yesterday during the MED7 Summit, is an important component of energy security in Europe.

Thank you dear Josep, and I look forward working with you not only to enhance our bilateral relations but also for a better and stronger Europe.

(MG/SCH)