A long tradition of good relations between Finland and Cyprus

In a joint press conference, Foreign Minister Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis of Cyprus, who visited Finland on 30–31 January, and her host, Foreign Minister Ilkka Kanerva, described bilateral relations between Finland and Cyprus as excellent. On the agenda of the ministers’ discussions were topical challenges facing the OSCE, the question of Kosovo, and enlargement of the European Union and the case of Turkey. Foreign Minister Kanerva said that cooperation between small countries is important.

The Foreign Minister of Cyprus congratulated Kanerva on his recent 60th birthday. She praised Finland’s achievements especially in the fields of information technology and sustainable development, and hoped that the two countries would launch cooperation also in the scope of technology and science. Kozakou-Marcoullis, who had lived in Finland for five years and studied at the University of Helsinki, said she was proud to be able to return to Finland as foreign minister of her country. Kozakou-Marcoullis stated that her country is fully committed to cooperation with the OSCE Chairmanship country, Finland.

Kanerva congratulated Cyprus on joining the Euro area and emphasised the importance of the common market area. He added that Cyprus is welcome to join the Schengen area when the time is ripe.

In addition to Minister Kanerva, Minister Kozakou-Marcoullis met with Astrid Thors, Minister of Migration and European Affairs, and Pertti Salolainen, Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Finnish Parliament.

An important role for Finland in the peacekeeping operation on Cyprus

During the ministers’ talks, Kozakou-Marcoullis explained the current situation on Cyprus to Kanerva. The question is especially important to Finland because from 1964 to 2005, Finland had an active presence on Cyprus with as many as 10,000 peacekeepers taking part in UN operations. The Foreign Minister of Cyprus took advantage of the opportunity to thank Finland officially for its efforts in securing and building peace on Cyprus, and extended her thanks both to the Finnish Government and to citizens who participated in the operation. Kozakou-Marcoullis stated that Finland’s participation in the peacekeeping operation on Cyprus was the base for the particularly warm relations between the two countries. She emphasised the importance of unifying Cyprus and its people, and hoped for support from Finland in future, too, until the problem of Cyprus has been solved.

As an example of current efforts to seek a permanent solution, the guest mentioned the agreement of 8 July, based on Resolutions of the UN Security Council and EU constitutional principles, which aims at initiating mutual negotiations about the conflict; its implementation is likely to begin immediately after the presidential election in February.

Cyprus does not intend to recognise Kosovo’s independence based on a unilateral declaration

The stand of Cyprus regarding the question of Kosovo attracted particular attention from journalists. Kozakou-Marcoullis stated that the view of Cyprus cannot be swayed. She said that for reasons of principle, Cyprus does not intend to recognise a unilateral declaration of independence. She continued that Cyprus has to look after its own vital interests, nor is the country ready to change its stand.

Kozakou-Marcoullis described the question of Kosovo as a national question for Cyprus as well, but Cyprus primarily wants to uphold and strengthen the principles of international law. She stressed that the stand of Cyprus is absolute for reasons of principle, while it has nothing to do with the various partners to the Kosovo question, and stated that bilateral relations, e.g. with Albania, are good.

Webcast of the press conference(Link to another website.)