The European Union’s foreign policy chief said on Friday that the cost of not reaching a solution to the island’s 41-year division is far greater than that of a potential solution and called on all sides involved in the talks to seize the moment and keep up the momentum, initiated by the two community leaders since April.
Federica Mogherini, the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, said after a meeting with Ioannis Kasoulides in Nicosia on Friday that everybody should consider the cost of non-reunification, economic, human, political, security cost.
“The real costs would be if this process failed. I think that these would be the real cost that no one could bear”.
The EU High Representative said she was confident that the leaders of the two communities “can bring results, especially for the younger generations”, noting that “what is at stake here is the future of the generations that were growing up in these last 41 years”.
She said that a solution would also be an “investment for the European Union as such” and a key contribution to the stability and the security of this region.
“So I really hope that this process can lead to a result. I do not say that it is now or never, but I do say that it is either now or very difficult in the future. I will personally do all I can to support this process in order for it to have a positive outcome,” said Mogherini.
Also on Mogherni’s agenda were developments in the Southern neighbourhood, EU-Russia relations and energy diplomacy. Developments in Syria, Egypt and Libya were also discussed, while ways were discussed in which Cyprus could contribute to the EU efforts and involvement in the region.
On the Iranian nuclear programme agreement, the High Representative noted that it was obviously a matter of security for Cyprus and the EU, whereas on the Syrian crisis she pointed out that it is lasting too long, with security and humanitarian consequences, with huge flow of refugees that create “other issues on our European table”.
The Palestinian issue “is another area where our cooperation is hopefully bringing some fruits and results,” she added, thanking Cyprus for its contribution to reviving the EU role in opening new perspective for the peace process.
Kasoulides said that “Cyprus is the EU’s border in this volatile area and we shared ideas on how Cyprus and the EU can contribute to the promotion of regional stability and security.”
He said that “we expect that Iran will assume a constructive and responsible regional role in order to allay the concerns of other friendly nations in our neighbourhood”.
