German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier stressed the importance of maintaining NATO unity on Monday from Nicosia, where he is paying the first official visit of a German President to Cyprus.
When questioned about Donald Trump’s assertion that as President, he would withhold US assistance from NATO allies who fail to meet their financial obligations to the alliance in case of a Russian attack, the President of Germany attributed it to pre-election rhetoric due to the ongoing campaigning for the American presidential elections.
He further mentioned that in October of the previous year, he personally traveled to Washington and had discussions with President Biden, urging Europeans not to prematurely assume the outcome of US elections.
He expressed confidence in the current US President’s support for NATO, emphasizing the importance of maintaining NATO’s unity.
Stressing the need for European and German efforts to bolster NATO, regardless of changes in US leadership, he highlighted that his views were echoed by other German officials.
Regarding Trump’s remarks, he criticized them for undermining the strong position desired, deeming them irresponsible and beneficial to Russia, and detrimental to the alliance.
Cyprus Problem and Migration
When questioned about potential efforts to improve Turkey’s relations with the EU despite existing challenges, particularly in terms of Cyprus, and asked about Cyprus’s proposal to appoint an EU envoy to advance the peace process, the German President acknowledged Cyprus’ desire for an envoy and Turkey’s interest in increased involvement, considering the envoy appointment as a separate matter.
The German President encouraged all parties involved in the Cyprus Problem to show the necessary readiness for compromise.
He was speaking through an interpreter at a joint press conference with President of the Republic Nikos Christodoulides at the Presidential Palace.
President Christodoulides stressed that the EU can play a more active role in the Cyprus issue as it has the necessary tools to do so. Nicosia, he added, is a supporter of closer relations between the EU and Turkey, pointing out that those relations go through the developments and the solution of the Cyprus issue.
President Christodoulides said he hoped that the first official visit of a German President to Cyprus would contribute to further strengthening the relations between the two countries.
“This year marks 35 years since the fall of the Berlin Wall. It is my hope and aspiration that we will soon be able to celebrate the reunification of Cyprus, Nicosia, the last divided capital of Europe,” the Cypriot President stressed.
They discussed, he added, bilateral relations, regional developments, energy, the European agenda, and the Cyprus issue.
Regarding immigration, he thanked Germany for the voluntary acceptance of more than 1,000 asylum seekers from Cyprus and said that more must be done in Europe not only through funding but also through addressing the root causes.
He also said that the issue of Syria should be opened, and areas should be examined as to whether they are safe to enable returns.
President Christodoulides referred to the energy sector saying that technical support will be requested from Germany for storage of energy with batteries.
Steinmeier said “Besides the 20-year anniversary of Cyprus joining the EU, this year we also have the events of 1974, 50 years of de facto division. It is time to work towards a solution to the Cyprus issue and I warmly welcome the fact that President Christodoulides sets progress as a priority and I would like to clearly state that Germany supports a bi-zonal, bi-communal solution to the Cyprus issue based on the UN parameters”, adding that the Cypriot President has the UN support and that Germany and the other EU countries will support the UN.
He also said that Germany will send for the first time German police officers to the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP).
There is great impetus as regards our relations, he said and referred to the fields of defence and energy.
Regarding the crisis in the Middle East, he said that “Cyprus for us and for the whole of Europe is a safe harbor in the region” and thanked Cyprus for the help it offered to remove German nationals from the area.
