State visit to Cyprus
Nicosia, Cyprus, 03/27/2006 | press release
President Dr Janez Drnovšek is currently on a two-day state visit to the Republic of Cyprus. Today he met his host, President Tassos Papadopoulos, the President of the House of Representatives Mr Demetris Christofias, and the Mayor of Nicosia Mr Michalakis Zampelas.
Plenary talks between the delegation of the Republic of Slovenia and the delegation of the Republic of Cyprus took place in the Presidential Palace. The Presidents agreed that good relations exist between the two countries and that a great many opportunities exist for cooperation, in particular in the economic field. President Drnovšek pointed out that the entry of the two countries to the EU has brought many new opportunities for cooperation, not least because both Cyprus and Slovenia are among the most developed new Member States and have comparable economies. President Drnovšek also highlighted the positive experience of the EU integration process, which allowed the two countries to establish in-depth cooperation.
The two Presidents also directed their attention to open questions relating to the future of the European Union. They agreed that there is no alternative to the European Constitution and that the ratification process needs to be speeded up, since this would create conditions for institutional consolidation of relations in the EU. They stated their opinion that medium-sized and small states have many common interests within the framework of the EU and expressed their conviction that Slovenia and Cyprus will continue to cooperate well in the future. The two Presidents also exchanged views on the new European financial perspective. In this context, President Drnovšek emphasised the need for a change to the Common Agricultural Policy. He said that more support needs to be given to organic production, rural development and less intensive farming.
President Papadopoulos then presented in detail his views on the resolution of the Cyprus issue. He drew particular attention to problems relating to restitution of property and immigrants in the northern part of Cyprus. He was interested to hear President Drnovšek’s views on the issue. President Drnovšek stressed the importance of a solution that is acceptable to both sides, not only for the inhabitants of Cyprus but for the wider region and for the EU as a whole. He believes that it is important for the Republic of Cyprus to play an active role in designing a solution with regard to which the two sides will be able to reach a consensus.
The programme of the state visit continued with the exchange of state decorations. President Papadopoulos decorated President Drnovšek with Cyprus’s highest decoration, the Grand Cross of the Order of Makarios III, named after the first President of Cyprus, Makarios III. President Drnovšek decorated President Papadopoulos with the Order for Exceptional Services in recognition of his contribution to the development and strengthening of friendly relations between the Republic of Slovenia and the Republic of Cyprus.
Later in the day President Drnovšek met the President of the House of Representatives, Mr Demetris Christofias. Mr Christofias, who is also the president of AKEL, the largest party in the Cyprus parliament, gave his views on the resolution of the Cyprus issue. He pointed out that several attempts at a rapprochement have been made in the past, without mediators or third parties, but that to date none has been successful. He believes that it will be difficult to find a solution but that nevertheless a compromise must be found to allow the two sides to live together. President Drnovšek wished him every success in the search for a solution. President Drnovšek and Mr Christofias offered a positive assessment of the possibility for strengthening cooperation between Slovenia and Cyprus in the political, interparliamentary and economic spheres.
President Drnovšek also met the Mayor of Nicosia, Mr Michalakis Zampelas. Mayor Zampelas presented President Drnovšek with the Golden Key to the City of Nicosia, the last divided city. Expressing his thanks for the welcome and the honour shown to him, President Drnovšek underlined the friendly relations between Slovenia and Cyprus. He expressed his hope that in the future Nicosia will once again be united and he offered its citizens his best wishes.