Germany and Cyprus signed Thursday a cooperation agreement for the evacuation of German citizens in case of crisis or natural disasters in Cyprus` geographic area.
The agreement was signed by Minister of State of the German Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs Michael Roth and Permanent Secretary of the Foreign Ministry of Cyprus Alexandros Zenon.
“This ceremony is very important for Germany. We have to face different crises in Europe`s doorstep and this technical arrangement allow us to use the good infrastructure of Cyprus, the airports, the ports in order to evacuate German citizens”, said Roth after the signing ceremony.
Pointing out the close cooperation between Germany and Cyprus within the EU, Roth sent a message of solidarity to Cyprus and its people, both for the Cyprus problem and the economic crisis.
“You have to solve many problems and you have to tackle a serious crisis. But you don’t stand alone. Germany and the people of Germany, the German parliament the German government is with you and we know very well that the average people on the street has to pay a very high price to solve this crisis”, he said.
Roth praised Cyprus` achievements and the excellent progress made in order to fulfill the details of the economic adjustment programme.
Roth, who is visiting Cyprus with a parliamentary delegation had also a meeting with Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades.
On his part, Ambassador Zenon said that the visit comes as a follow up after the President`s visit in Berlin last May, and of the visit of the Foreign Minister to the country.
Zenon said that during the meeting they had political consultations and the occasion to discuss about the Cyprus economy, the unification process regarding the Cyprus problem as well as Turkey-EU relations and Turkish the effort to restore its accession course.
He also said that Cyprus recognizes the contribution of the German government in the effort to restore conditions of growth and stabilize the economy.
As he pointed out Cyprus and Germany were already cooperating in the field of citizens evacuation since 2006, without an agreement, as Germany already operates from Limassol port.
