During her visit, Metsola laid a wreath at the Monument of Archbishop Makarios III.

According to an official announcement, the two leaders discussed the Cyprus problem, migration, the war in Ukraine and rising energy prices.

“I elaborated to President Metsola our strong belief that the Eastern Mediterranean can play a significant role in addressing the current energy crisis unfolding in Europe, by providing a reliable alternative energy corridor and to this end Cyprus stands ready to make its relevant contribution,” President Anastasiades said.

In her remarks to the media, President Metsola stressed the need for negotiations for the Cyprus problem to resume.

“Europe will never be whole while Cyprus remains split.

“This is why we need to get back to negotiations. This has to happen under the auspices of the United Nations. There can be only one Cyprus – a single sovereign, European State. A bi-communal, bi-zonal federation in line with UN Security Council resolutions,” Metsola said.

She also criticised Turkish actions in Famagusta saying they “jeopardise the efforts to resume direct talks for a comprehensive and sustainable solution to the Cyprus problem”.

Asked if the EU examines the issue of exploitation of natural gas from Cyprus, she said that recent discoveries in the country’s EEZ showed that it can become “a key strategic partner and key strategic ally for the EU in diversifying its energy mix.”

“That is something that we need to continue looking at, that is something that we need to continue investing in and that is also allowing us to look at different partners, third countries, that we can continue to cooperate within the light of the ongoing aggression, but also in the future,” she added.

Source: In-Cyprus