Cyprus solution would unlock island’s strategic role, diplomats say

Cyprus cannot fully exploit its strategic location until the Cyprus problem is solved, Indian and German diplomats told the Cyprus Forum on Wednesday, with Germany’s Chargé d’Affaires saying all energy projects on the island had stopped because of its division. Indian High Commissioner Manish and German Chargé d’Affaires Mirko Kruppa told a panel that until a solution is found, costlier alternatives will have to be sought and Cyprus will not be able to reap the full benefits its location could offer. German envoy “All energy projects in Cyprus have stopped because of the island’s division,” Kruppa said, arguing that the Cyprus problem needs to be solved urgently. If Cypriots want a common security policy, “the ‘north’ and the ‘south’ will have to agree on joining NATO, accepting the Turkish presence on the island”, he said. Asked what Europe could do to secure Cyprus on energy, security and crisis response, Kruppa said “not much”. When Article 42 was discussed during Cyprus’s presidency of the Council of the EU, “it became clear that there are no procedures in place”, he said, adding that putting them in place would take at least two to three years. “I don’t think Cyprus has the time to wait,” he said. “Whoever wants to control the stability of the Eastern Mediterranean has to work with this island,” Kruppa said. For Cyprus to be at the centre and make full use of its strategic position, it “has to come together as a society and overcome the drama and the deep divisions”, he said. The EU and the guarantor powers have their own role to play, he said, but the starting point “lies within the island. Cyprus has the potential to be an asset and everyone sees that, but it is a matter of calculating the cost.” Indian High Commissioner Manish said Cyprus’s strategic and geographic value would depend on “whether it can keep its systems running under pressure, make informed and sovereign decisions, reduce dependence on single points and rely on trusted partners, without surrendering its decision-making capabilities”. Referring to the strategic partnership India and Cyprus have developed over the past two years, he said talks were continuing on Cyprus joining the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC). “Cyprus is interested and has appointed a point of contact at the Foreign Ministry on the matter,” he said. But “there is still a way to go before it is formally accepted as a founding member”, he added, saying certain steps would be needed for Cyprus to be useful to these projects, including on financial, economic or digital connectivity in terms of infrastructure. Manish praised Cyprus for “punching above its weight”, noting that it is one of the fastest-growing economies in the EU. Cyprus also brings its own value to India as a significant investor, with substantial foreign direct investment flowing from Cyprus to India, he said. “The current President understands that he must diversify his partnerships,” Manish said, adding that the President is deliberately pursuing policies that look east. “We have mapped our synergies, we have a delegation in shipping, we will have a discussion on connectivity,” he said, before adding: “But the historic territorial problem is here.” “For the way forward, I believe the guarantor powers should attach greater weight and the EU must get more involved to find a solution to the Cyprus problem,” he said. India always stands by Cyprus and “we support it in every possible way”, he said, but “more is not getting done because of this problem. I hope a solution is found.” (CNA)