Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said the Republic of Cyprus has the potential to act as a mediator between Israel and Palestine. He made the remarks during a working lunch with President of the Republic Nikos Christodoulides at the Presidential Palace on Thursday (29 October).
Mr Abbas pointed to the excellent relations Cyprus maintains with both Palestine and Israel. He argued that Nicosia could play an important role in mediating between the two sides, with the aim of reaching a political solution based on international legitimacy and UN Security Council resolutions.
Cyprus ready to contribute
President Christodoulides assured his guest that the Republic of Cyprus is ready to contribute to efforts for cooperation and peace in the region.
“The Republic of Cyprus is ready to play any role you believe we can play towards cooperation in our region,” he said.
“You have excellent relations with Israel”
Responding to President Christodoulides, Mr Abbas said Cyprus could use its relations with both sides to contribute to efforts to resolve the Palestinian question.
“Yes, you can play a very important role,” he said. He added that, beyond its excellent relations with the Palestinian people, the Republic of Cyprus maintains similarly good relations with Israel.
“You also have excellent relations, and rightly so, with Israel, so you can play a role in mediating between the two sides, on the basis of a political solution grounded in international legitimacy and United Nations Security Council resolutions,” he said.
The Palestinian President also referred to the historical ties between the two peoples, saying that in Cyprus he feels at home. He explained that the Palestinian people feel not only geographical proximity to Cyprus but also a deeper human connection with the Cypriot people.
The role of the European Union
Mr Abbas made particular reference to the European Union’s stance on the Palestinian question, noting that there have been significant developments recently.
Specifically, he said that Spain, France, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands have expressed positions very close to those of the Palestinian side. In his view, this creates prospects for a more substantial European contribution to efforts to achieve peace.
“Europe in general can play an important role in the settlement and the prevalence of peace in the region,” he said.
“We cannot change geography”
Welcoming his Palestinian counterpart, President Christodoulides described the timing of the visit as particularly important.
He said Cypriot foreign policy focuses on strengthening regional cooperation, and referred to the dual role Cyprus plays as an EU member state in the Eastern Mediterranean. The Republic of Cyprus conveys the concerns of states in the region to the European institutions, while at the same time representing the European Union in the region.
“We are pleased that this role of ours has been recognised both by the other member states and by the EU institutions,” he said.
Concluding, President Christodoulides stressed the need for cooperation among the states of the region on the basis of a positive approach.
“We cannot change geography. That is why we must all work together, on the basis of a positive agenda and a positive approach, to achieve our common goals,” he said.
