After the end of today’s crisis in the Middle East, we must openly discuss the issue of British bases in Cyprus with the government in London, Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulidis said today at a meeting with journalists in Brussels, BTA reported.
The presence of British bases is a remnant of colonialism, he commented. With today’s government in London, we have the best cooperation since the declaration of independence of Cyprus in 1960, the President added.
According to him, the key to solving the issue of the division of the island is in the hands of Turkey. He announced that he is considering inviting Turkish President Recep Erdogan to the meeting of EU and Mediterranean leaders scheduled for April. The Cypriot president specified that he asked his colleagues in the European Council, who are on good terms with Ankara, to check in advance the mood for such a possibility. I don’t want to send an invitation that would be rejected, so far the answers (from Ankara) are not positive, Christodoulidis said.
He stressed that despite the incident of the Iranian drone strike on a British base in Cyprus, the island remains a calm and safe place, and the conditions for tourism have not changed. Cypriots will never forget the sympathy of Greece, France, Italy, Spain and the Netherlands, who responded immediately to my request for assistance after the attack, the president added.
According to him, Ukraine is the most important issue for the EU today, and the crisis in the Middle East creates an opportunity to achieve European independence. Crises should not change our direction, it should be determined by us and it is clear – an independent EU open to the world, summarized Christodoulidis.
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Assessment 4.4 from 22 voice.
