Speaking from Brussels where he attended the European Council meeting on energy and tax evasion and held bilateral contacts with EU leaders, Anastasiades said he asked the EU to increase economic aid earmarked for Cyprus within the multi-annual financial framework and to take a greater role in the co-financing of Cyprus-based projects.

According to the president, European Council President Herman Van Rompuy responded positively to the request. Anastasiades thanked European Parliament President Martin Schulz for showing his clear support to Cyprus by asking European leaders to commit more funds so the island could face the current crisis.“Not only did Mr Schulz support our request fully, but in the first session of the European Council he made special reference to Cyprus, asking that everyone contribute and work towards satisfying our request.”

Speaking at a press conference on the sidelines of the Council meeting in Brussels, Schulz said the EU had to show “the spirit of solidarity” to Cyprus. He said he asked for a political commitment on the part of EU leaders towards helping Cyprus, noting that it would not be necessary to use money allocated for other countries. The aim is for European leaders to recognise that Cyprus is a country affected greatly and that it needs EU solidarity, he said. “We all know how difficult the situation in the country is,” he noted, adding that when in Nicosia, he felt as a citizen “how difficult the life can become in times of crisis and how difficult it is to manage such a crisis”. Once European leaders accept this, he added, it will be possible to find more money from EU funds without affecting another country. What is needed more than ever, Schulz said, “is mutual trust between the institutions and the member states and I think the European Parliament across all the different political tendencies gave (me) a mandate to express once more my solidarity with the Republic of Cyprus”.

During a bilateral meeting with Schulz, Anastasiades also spoke about the unfair treatment Cyprus suffered regarding allegations of money laundering, which were largely proved untrue in the reports by Moneyval and Deloitte. In an interview with Euronews, Anastasiades said: “I have the impression we are replying to indicators demanded by international rules on anti-money laundering in a much better way than some big countries that forced us to suffer this ordeal. It doesn’t appear Cyprus belongs to those countries considered money launderers.”

During the Council discussion on tax fraud and evasion, the president said he seized the opportunity- because Cyprus was recently a target of money laundering allegations- to emphasise the importance Cyprus attaches to the “institutional framework against money laundering and its implementation by all European countries” He noted that Cyprus was evaluated positively in this sector, following the demand by its EU partners for a detailed evaluation by Moneyval and Deloitte as a precondition to approving a bailout. The general picture that emerges from the reports “does not justify at all the recent attempt by some to defame Cyprus”, he said.

On the discussion of energy, Anastasiades said he emphasised “the importance of the hydrocarbon deposits in the Levantine Basin and the prospect of making Cyprus a regional energy hub”. “I stressed that the southern corridor is, under the circumstances, a safe and beneficial proposal for Europe. As revealed by the whole debate, the EU leadership includes in its plans, as one of the proposed alternative routes, the connection of Israel-Cyprus-Greece and rest of Europe.” Using domestic energy sources would be a major contribution to the EU’s energy security and make the EU more competitive while promoting growth and job creation, he argued.

Regarding his meeting with British Prime Minister David Cameron, Anastasiades said the two discussed the economic situation in Cyprus, requesting British support for additional EU funding. He also discussed the need to prepare properly for peace talks, noting that Turkey needed to help create trust between the sides, and referred to his proposal to return the fenced off part of Famagusta. Asked by a reporter why peace talks could not get underway now, he replied: “When people are hungry, when they stop their children’s education, when they are unemployed, the last thing troubling them would be if their leaders, instead of tackling their problems, are dealing with a problem which is largely a result of Turkish intransigence.” And given the lack of trust held towards Turkey by Greek Cypriots, who believe Turkey either wants no solution or to control Cyprus’ natural resources, such efforts would not be beneficial at present, at a time when Cyprus was economically weakened, he added.

On Cyprus’ gas exploration in its exclusive economic zone, “the British prime minister acknowledged the importance of the energy sector for the Cyprus Republic particularly at this juncture, and noted that exploitation (of hydrocarbon deposits) was its sovereign right”.

The president also held bilateral contacts with the German chancellor, the prime ministers of Finland and the Netherlands and with Greek PM Antonis Samaras. “European leaders are aware that Cyprus needs the solidarity of Europe. At the same time, they realise that a failure of the tough decision taken on our country would essentially be a failure of Europe,” he said.

Source: Cyprus Mail