Turkey potentially part of East Med friendship network 

Turkey can be part of a network of friendship in the Eastern Mediterranean, the chairman of the House foreign affairs committee, Harris Georgiades, said on Wednesday.

His comments came after a meeting with a delegation of the German parliament’s Friendship Group for relations with Malta and Cyprus,

However, Georgiades noted that “for the time being we are far from such a prospect.”

In his remarks after the meeting, Georgiades said that the two sides discussed the Cyprus problem and Turkey at length, adding that Cyprus’ position is that Turkey should also behave as a good neighbour, show respect for international law and contribute to the peaceful resolution of the Cyprus problem.

He added that the help of the German MPs was requested and stressed that Turkey can be part of a network of friendship and cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean and that Cyprus wants Turkey to be part of this network of states.

Lawmakers discussed a wide range of issues during the meeting, including the issue of the Russian invasion, Georgiades continued, adding that the two sides agreed that the solutions to the major challenges facing Europe should be seen together and not by each member state separately.

In her own remarks, Friendship Group president Derya Türk-Nachbaur said that German-Cypriot relations are back in the spotlight, following last week’s visit to Berlin by President Nikos Christodoulides.

“Just last week the president of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, and Foreign Minister Konstantinos Kombou visited Berlin, during which there were very constructive talks,” she said.

Türk-Nachbaur also thanked the Cypriot government for its assistance in the evacuation of German citizens from Sudan, adding that the flights from the island were organised with very fast procedures, providing a great deal of help to people in need, another proof of the effectiveness of European relations, she said.

“We are convinced that German-Cypriot relations will be further strengthened and will be based on common values such as friendship, cooperation and solidarity,” she said.

Türk-Nachbaur added that the two countries in close cooperation will promote areas such as economy, trade, education and culture, while the German MPs highlighted the strengthening of German language learning in Cyprus, as well as the promotion of Germany as a study destination for Cypriot students.

“The whole EU will benefit from the cooperation between the two countries, we are convinced that an even closer cooperation between the two countries in the fields of energy and climate protection is of great importance, while the exchange of know-how and good practices will benefit the fields of innovation and environmental protection”, Türk-Nachbaur stressed.