The main theme of the event, which was held today, Friday 8 April in Nicosia was “Security Challenges in the Eastern Mediterranean and the role of the EU”.
Referring to during his speech in the civil war in Syria, mr Androulakis pointed out that the Arab Spring acted as a Pandora’s box. Unleashed sectarian forces, which was well hidden up to then, noting at the same time that at this moment, for the first time, with the talks being held in Geneva under the auspices of the UN made a serious effort to put an end to the conflict.
For the role of Turkey, mr. Androulakis explained that mr Erdogan is an unpredictable and low reliability as an interlocutor, and the isolation in which it is driven, that creates new data in the wider area. Continuing, he stressed that a fundamental condition for the accession of Turkey to the EU is the timely fulfilment of the accession criteria. These include the respect of the principle of good neighbourliness, which is not consistent with the foreign policy of Turkey in the last few years and the ever-increasing disputes and claims. The strengthening of the rule of Law in Turkey will help not only to the prosperity of the Turkish people but also to the stability of the region.
On the talks to solve the Cyprus problem, mr. Androulakis said that the termination of the Turkish occupation and colonization and to find a comprehensive, mutually acceptable, just and viable solution are a top national priority, adding that if you prevail the forces of ÎµÎ¸Î½Î¿Î»Î±ÏŠÎºÎ¹ÏƒÎ¼Î¿Ï and demagoguery will be lost another important opportunity. He went on to argue that any solution must also comply fully with the Security Council resolutions and the acquis communautaire, stressing that permanent deviations cannot be accepted.
Finally, mr. Androulakis spoke about the refugee crisis and the recent agreement, criticizing the delays of the Greek Government as well as the lack of solidarity from many Countries within the European Union. The lack of a comprehensive and integrated european strategy has given us the opportunity in Turkey to blackmail by blinking the faucet of misery in the Aegean sea. Priority must be the defence of human rights, and must not, in any case, the human tragedy becomes a component of an immoral geopolitical bazaar or motivation for racist and anti-european events.
The geopolitical challenges of the time require a realistic national plan
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