Nicosia (CNA) — Latvian President Vaira Vike Freiberga expressed here Monday the wish that the wall separating Nicosia and Cyprus will ”fall dawn.”
Replying to questions after visiting the cease-fire line, Freiberga, who is paying Cyprus an official visit, recalled the demolition of the Berlin Wall, ushering in the reunification of Germany.
”When the wall came down it was a symbol in Europe of reunification that we were able to share when the countries formerly under the sway of Moscow were able to join the EU together with Cyprus”, the Latvian President told CNA, adding that ”I think the Europe that we are developing now and the one we look forward to is one were we do not have barbed wire separating any territory and we want to see it fall down just like the wall of Berlin.”
Replying to a question whether it is possible for a crossing point to open in Ledras under the presence of an occupation force, Freiberga said that this is a question that both sides have to agree.
Recalling situations like the division of Korea, Freiberga said that ”in tragedies of that sort just the human contacts I think would a way to start even as negotiations should proceed about removing the military forces.”
She also recalled that her country had a foreign military force after gaining independence and added that this force ”was withdrawn and that was a great help to our development and we wish the same thing, such a situation could be also solved here in Cyprus.”
Earlier, Freiberga was received in Nicosia City Hall by the Nicosia Mayor Eleni Mavrou, who pointed that although Nicosia is one of the oldest capitals in the world, the city is divided ”a shameful fact that can neither be ignored nor accepted.”
”This division marks Nicosia as the last divided capital in Europe and adulterates century-old history, tradition and reputation as a multicultural centre that thrives on diversity,” Mavrou said, adding that ”this ongoing division also threatens our valuable heritage which means so much to all citizens of Nicosia.”
She said that the green line has ”painful scars of our capital, scars that run right through the old town within the magnificent city walls distorting the image of the one vibrant core to our capital,” adding that ”fine examples of our architectural heritage are deprived of the recognition and the care they deserve.”
”As a Municipality tackling the problem and side-effects of this continued division is our highest priority and greatest challenge,” Mavrou said, adding that ”our eyes are firmly set on a new era where once again we and every citizen of Nicosia will be able to enjoy our capital to the full. Our aim is to develop Nicosia in to a flourishing city free from social conflicts.”
Mavrou said that Nicosia looks forward to the support of the other members of our EU family such as Latvia in the efforts to reunite Nicosia and Cyprus, reaffirming ”Nicosia’s commitment to foster the best possible relations with Riga to take every opportunity to promote economic cooperation, cultural exchanges and solidarity between our peoples.”
Replying, Frieberga wished for the citizens of Nicosia and of Cyprus ”a future where not just the city can be reunited but the people, regardless of their origins, there religion and their convictions, can function together as citizens of the state in the full sense of that world.”
Referring to Turkey’s accession course, Freiberga said that Latvia takes the position that ”any country that is able to fulfill the requirements for membership in the EU and who then is accepted by the existing members of the EU should be accepted.”
”An absolute precondition for that is taking the acquis communautaire as the basis of the cooperation and accepting the fundamental principles that the EU was based on and when these principles are fulfilled I think there would be no barriers,” she added.
She stressed however that ”the accession of a country like Turkey would need the solution of the situation of Cyprus. If Turkey is to move forward, in its movement towards the EU, this situation of Cyprus will need to get a solution.”
”So we would encourage the sides to continue engaging in dialogue, the citizens of both sides involved in the process and we look forward to the day when your island can once again be a united whole,” the Latvian President concluded.
