The resumption of substantive negotiations on the Cyprus issue, building on the work accomplished at Crans-Montana, would be an extremely important development, Foreign Minister Konstantinos Kompos said on Monday, expressing his hope that positive news would emerge from the day’s meetings. Mr. Kompos was speaking at the 22nd Annual Cyprus Conference of The Economist, which is being held at a hotel in Nicosia.
When asked about developments in the Cyprus issue, the Foreign Minister said that in the event of a resumption of substantive negotiations, they would focus on the outstanding issues, building on the negotiating groundwork that has already been laid.
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“We would not be starting from scratch or from a different basis for discussion,” he said, emphasizing that the only precondition on our part is what the United Nations Security Council stipulates regarding the Cyprus issue. “Nothing more, nothing less,” he added, noting that the Greek Cypriot side is approaching the discussions with a positive attitude, but that progress also requires the cooperation of the other parties involved.
In his keynote address, titled “Strategic Dependencies in a Changing World Order: The Case of Cyprus,” Mr. Kompos emphasized that small states must carefully choose their strategic dependencies, rather than pursuing unrealistic self-sufficiency or absolute neutrality.
He said that Cyprus’s foreign policy is based on its membership in the EU, its Western orientation, and its relations with countries in the region, such as the United Arab Emirates, Israel, and Egypt, while seeking to expand cooperation with India and other countries in Asia and Africa.
The goal, he explained, is to build long-term partnerships based on trust and not solely on cost, as well as establishing Cyprus as a reliable partner, without being drawn into the agendas of other states.
Referring to the crises in Iran, the Strait of Hormuz, the Red Sea, in Syria, Lebanon, and Ukraine, he highlighted their impact on security, energy, migration, freedom of navigation, and supply chains.
He also underscored the resilience Cyprus has demonstrated despite the ongoing Turkish occupation of one-third of the island, noting that a solution to the Cyprus problem would allow the country and its citizens to fully realize their potential. He stressed, however, that Cyprus cannot remain inactive until the problem is resolved, but must continue to capitalize on its strengths and strengthen its international role.
He also referred to Cyprus’s economic performance, the shipping sector, and the financial technology sector, which, according to him, accounts for approximately 16% of the economy.
When asked about regional energy cooperation, Mr. Kompos said that the primary goal is the commercial exploitation of Cyprus’s natural gas reserves, alongside the country’s participation in developing energy and trade networks.
He referred to natural gas exports, electricity interconnections, and infrastructure projects, highlighting the prospects of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC).
As he said, the priority now is to move forward with the implementation of specific projects within the framework of IMEC, noting that Cyprus could serve as one of the corridor’s entry points into Europe.
He also referred to the ministerial meeting on energy, held in June in Houston, Texas, with the participation of Cyprus, Greece, Israel, and the U.S., as part of efforts to strengthen regional energy cooperation.
When asked about foreign policy priorities for the coming year, he emphasized the need to adapt to rapidly changing geopolitical developments and to implement existing action plans so that strategic partnerships yield concrete results.
As he noted in his speech, the strength of a small state does not depend on what it can achieve on its own, but on the results it can secure through cooperation with other countries and its contribution to the achievement of common goals.
Source: CNA
