Prountzos-Harmanci stress importance of city-level cooperation for Cyprus issue

The importance of bicommunal cooperation at the city level that could pave the way for a settlement of the Cyprus problem was the main point stressed by Charalambos Prountzos, Mayor of Nicosia, and Mehmet Harmanci, “Mayor” of Turkish-occupied Nicosia, in their addressed at the 5th Cyprus Forum in Nicosia.

In his speech, Prountzos said that Nicosia has been paying the bill of the unresolved Cyprus issue, ‘unable to reach its full potential, gradually becoming introverted and sad just like its residents, whole generations of which have been trying to plan, build and create using makeshift solutions to avoid the anomaly on the ground.’

He reiterated his willingness to collaborate with Mehmet Harmanci to bring about positive results for the city and all its residents, with his approach building on reviewing and updating the master plan efforts which had culminated to a common sewage treatment plant in Mia Milia, that has slowed down since 2001, building on the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the EU Green
transmission and Smart Transition agenda.

He added that culture is also an area of potential cooperation, noting the candidacy of Nicosia for the cultural capital of Europe in 2030.

‘The easiest thing to do would be to initiate a blame game, one of the cliches of the Cyprus issue. I refuse to go down that road. Instead, I highlighted the need to create a city of peace and stability in a region that is burning. Hope and optimism are built with small success stories. Hopefully working together with Mehmet, the UN and the European Union, we can have more of that soon’, he concluded.

For his part, Harmanci said that the ongoing Cyprus conflict is not a side-issue but the fundamental issue for all Cypriots, cutting across everything else.

‘We cannot maximise the economic potential of this island in the absence of a peaceful and sustainable solution, neither can we talk about the environmental sustainability or build resilience against the looming dangers of climate change. It also seems almost delusional to di
scuss regional security at a time when the two Cypriot communities cannot even come together around a table to talk earnestly about the Cyprus conflict and with the growing militarisation all around the island’, he stressed in that regard.

He also invited attendees to think about the opportunities lost in terms of economic, social and external cohesion and what could have been achieved on the whole island in terms of development, sustainability, human rights and security had it succeeded in joining the EU as a united Cyprus 20 years ago.

He also expressed his satisfaction over the fact that his counterpart comes to the table with a new ideas of concrete and functional bicommunal cooperation that will benefit the city and all its residents.

‘Cypriots have proven that they disregard artificial borders and demand engagement with each other for social, commercial, education and employment opportunities across the buffer zone. What we urgently need at this time is courage on the part of decision makers and lead
ers on both sides to publicly recognise that a sustainable, safe and prosperous future for all Cypriots will be a dream and an illusion as long as we remain divided’, he concluded.

The reunification of Cyprus will give its people the best chance to leave behind the past and lead a normal life, said for her part Giulia Bertezzolo, Head of the Cyprus settlement support Unit in the European Commission.

She added that in this direction the Commission is using mainly two instruments, monitoring the implementation of the Green Line regulation and most importantly, implementing the EU aid programme for the Turkish Cypriot community, whose objective is to facilitate reunification by encouraging the economic integration of the island, improving contacts between the communities and bringing Turkish Cypriots closer to the EU.

“With the appointment of the UN Secretary General Special Envoy we have the opportunity to solve the Cyprus issue, let’s not waste it. Each of us, and especially Cypriots, can do something to cr
eate a positive and cooperative environment, conducive to a settlement of the Cyprus issue and to a peaceful and prosperous Cyprus. The European Commission is ready to continue and further support the work of the Secretary General and of the Special Envoy to find a fair solution for Cyprus’, she concluded.

CNA is media sponsor of the Cyprus Forum.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres appointed María Ángela Holguín Cuéllar of Colombia as his personal envoy for Cyprus, to assume a Good Offices role on his behalf and search for common ground on the way forward in the Cyprus issue.

Source: Cyprus News Agency