Remarks by the High Representative/Vice-President Federica Mogherini following the meeting with Foreign Minister of Cyprus Ioannis Kasoulides ( EEAS - 24/7/15)

Nicosia, 24/07/2015:
"First of all it is a real pleasure to be here in Cyprus. I have started in my role nine months ago. It was very important for me to start the first year of my mandate by paying visits to all the 28 capitals - to shape a common, strong, consistent foreign policy of the European Union also this way, not only sitting around a table of the Council in Brussels with the Ministers, which is something we do every month in a very fruitful way.

And I thank you for the always strong, wise and truly European approach that Cyprus brings to the table, also involving the countries, the communities, the people of the European Union on the shaping of our common foreign and security policy. And this is the reason of my visit here: to meet, to discuss the priorities of the whole country of Cyprus when it comes to the EU common foreign and security policy. And here obviously the number one priority is this region, this part of the world that has the most conflicts right now and that is also the most relevant for the European Union External Action.
Thank you for the nice words on the good news we had last week on the Iranian nuclear agreement. I have to tell you - also publicly - that this was obviously first of all a matter of security for Cyprus as well, because not having a nuclear weapon in Iran is a matter of security for the whole region, which means also for Cyprus and for the European Union. But it is also a matter of contributing to a region, the wider Middle East, that can be more stable and more secure, and this is also a way of having good news coming from this part of the world and from the European Union.
We are living in critical, difficult times. Here, in particular, I know you feel the dramatic situation of the conflict in Syria that is lasting too long, with the security consequences, with the humanitarian consequences, with the huge flows of refugees.
And the long lasting conflict over the Middle East, the Palestinian issue, which is another area where our cooperation is hopefully bringing some results. I would like to thank you for the extremely helpful contribution that Cyprus is bringing to reviving the European Union role in opening new perspectives for the Peace Process.
I know that this is also a special time for Cyprus itself. It is not a matter of foreign policy, but it gives me an opportunity to say, just one week after the visit that President Juncker paid here, that the talks on settling the Cyprus issue have all the support of the European Union, of the Commission. Obviously recognising the role that the UN has in leading these negotiations, you can count on all the European Union support in accompanying this, in getting ready for hopefully positive results and in preparing together the future of the island and of all its people."
 http://eeas.europa.eu/statements-eeas/2015/150724_02_en.htm
The video of the press point is available on EbS: http://ec.europa.eu/avservices/video/player.cfm?ref=I107558
 24/7/15
-