H.E. Dr. Michalis Stavrinos:

It is true that the majority of Turkish Cypriots are in favour of reunification. Many times they publicly disagree with their leadership when it refers to two states, two sovereignties and two peoples. There have been many meetings between the political parties on both sides of the dividing line, which is very promising. If the Turkish Cypriot community was left alone with the Greek Cypriot community, I am more than positive that the problem could be solved yesterday and not tomorrow. Unfortunately, we need to consider the bigger picture, as I mentioned in the beginning, including specific actors both in the region and far away.
I fully agree with the Deputy that this is a golden opportunity for the Cypriots, for the countries in the region and also for the European Union to play the role it is destined to play. If the raison d'êtreof the European Union was the solution of the divisions of the past, Cyprus is today's challenge and we hope it will respond to it positively.