GERMAN CHANCELLOR Angela Merkel gave her full support to President Demetris Christofias’ efforts to solve the Cyprus problem yesterday during a “historic” one-day visit to the island while saying that the Turkish side was not doing enough in this regard.
“We greatly appreciate your courage, creativity shown and initiative taken to solve the problem. We see that you are taking many steps and we also see that the Turkish side is not responding adequately to your steps,” said Merkel during a joint press conference at the Presidential Palace.
The steps taken by Christofias “show that you are ready to make a compromise”, she said.
“We will support the path you have chosen to solve the problem in every way we can. We know this path is not easy and that the solution must be achieved by the people of Cyprus,” she added.
The German chancellor, the first to visit Cyprus 49 years after Archbishop Makarios paid an official visit to Bonn in 1962, pledged to use her contacts with Turkish officials to promote Christofias’ efforts for a solution.
“Whenever I have the opportunity, I will speak with Turkish officials, the Prime Minister and ministers that I meet so we can help in your efforts,” she said.
Merkel arrived at Larnaca airport with her entourage at midday for a five-hour official visit, much trumpeted by Christofias as being of great significance. Before her arrival, however, press reports speculated that Merkel was coming to let the president know the EU expected to see the problem solved and obstacles to Turkey’s EU accession path and EU-NATO cooperation removed.
While the latter issues were both highlighted by Merkel as important, her unambiguous support for Christofias’ handling of the problem and public criticism of Turkey’s failure to match his efforts were clear.
Within hours, the Turkish press was accusing Merkel of continuing the war of words against Turkey reportedly started by Greek premier George Papandreou last Friday.
Merkel, raised in East Germany, said Germany wanted to do its utmost to overcome the island’s partition for two reasons: “First, we understand your position because Germany has also been a divided country. Second, Germany and Cyprus have particularly close relations in various fields.”
Specific reference was made to the recent agreement signed with the Max Planck Institute in the field of science, and the strong economic ties between the two countries.
Merkel said Germany wanted to help strengthen co-operation between NATO and the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), which is currently hampered by Turkey’s refusal to allow the EU, including Cyprus, in on NATO meetings.
“The Cyprus issue must be resolved if we are to untangle ourselves from this problem and Cyprus must be reunited, so the negotiations must continue,” she said.
“I want to thank Mr Christofias because we managed to draft a strategic plan of cooperation between NATO and the CFSP,” she said.
Chrisofias returned the gratitude, thanking Merkel for supporting his proposal at the last EU Council meeting in December to base EU-NATO relations on UN resolutions and principles.
Referring to Turkey’s EU accession negotiations, Merkel expressed Germany’s definite wish that they continue regardless of the final decision, expressing certainty that this will help improve relations between Greece and Turkey.
“It is in Germany’s interest for relations between these two countries to improve just as it is that the Cyprus problem be resolved,” she said.
Asked whether Turkey’s occupation of Cyprus was compatible with its EU accession course, Merkel, replied: “We are aware of the existing difficulties and this is the reason why we placed so many restrictions in the accession negotiations. As long as Turkey is not implementing the Ankara Protocol, no negotiating chapters can be closed or have been closed. Moreover, there are eight chapters that can not even open.”
Quizzed on the German experience of reunification, she said: “Emotionally, I understand very well what division means, but practically, there are many differences between the situation in Cyprus and Germany, so I doubt we could use the German experience as a model.”
However, the German federal experience could prove valuable once negotiations mature, she added.
Merkel noted this was the first time a German chancellor visits the Cyprus Republic since its establishment, adding she was happy to be the one to visit “this beautiful country”.
For his part, Christofias said the two leaders focused “almost exclusively” on the Cyprus problem due to the interest shown by Merkel on the subject, “something which moved me”, he said.
“Mrs Merkel knows better than us what a federation is. She lives in a country which is a great federation and is leader of that country. More or less, we want to create this kind of federation in Cyprus too,” he said.
On Turkish accession, Christofias said: “We don’t want to hold Turkey hostage.” But at the same time Turkey cannot continue to not recognise an EU member and refuse to implement the Ankara Protocol”.
He assured Merkel that he was filled with good will to solve the problem as soon as possible, on the condition that the solution respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Cyprus, as well as the human rights and basic freedoms of all people “who live in this multicultural country”.
Following the press conference, the two delegations had a working lunch, after which Merkel visited the Goethe Centre in the buffer zone and spoke to Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot teenagers studying the German language.
She also got a chance to see divided Nicosia from the rooftop of the Ledra Palace Hotel, with UN Special Adviser Alexander Downer and UN Special Representative Lisa Buttenheim as her guides.
Before being whisked off to the airport, Merkel had a short meeting with opposition DISY leader Nicos Anastassiades. Both belong to the same European political group, the European People’s Party. Anastassiades said he asked for Merkel and the EU to have a “more active involvement” in the peace process.
