Cyprus can utilise it’s geographical position to a significant advantage

Cyprus for the first time in its history can utilise its geographical position as a significant competitive advantage that will strengthen the struggle for freedom and vindication, President of the House of Representatives Yiannakis Omirou said on Saturday.

Addressing a conference organised by the European Party on “EU Relations with the Muslim and Arab World“, Omirou said that Cyprus and Greece must reevaluate their stance towards Turkey’s European course. He noted that with the conclusion of the EEZ delineation agreements with Egypt, Lebanon and Israel, Cyprus moves on to an important step that allows it to become an energy factor in the region. The EU Presidency in the second half of 2012 strengthens the possibilities of a decisive presence of Cyprus in regional and European developments and the Parliament’s preparations to contribute to this effort are in full.

Regarding the Turkish role in the region, the House President said that it would be “a naive and extremely dangerous distraction to hope and expect for a meaningful shift in Turkish policy on the Cyprus issue on the basis of the tug between Erdogan and the generals.“

Referring to the “Arab Spring”, Omirou said that it expresses a hope for a better tomorrow and that the proximity of Cyprus to the countries is a valuable asset for the EU. He noted that the EU must pay special attention to the developments in Libya, Egypt, Tunisia and the rest of the region and must help the Arab world to achieve the goal of transition to democracy and to create a hopeful future. The same applies to the Syrian people, facing the violent reaction of a tyrannical regime, he added.