The EPP`s candidate for the post of President of European Commission Jean – Claude Juncker has said that the EU should act as a facilitator in the reunification process and pledged that were he to lead the Commission, “it would stick to the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions”.

He was speaking during a joint press conference with Democratic Rally party President (DISY) Averof Neophytou.

Referring to the recently resumed Cyprus peace talks which aim to reunify the island, divided since Turkey invaded in 1974, he expressed “the highest interest in a positive outcome in the peace negotiations between the two communities”.

“As President of the Commission I will take care of the European interest in these negotiations”, he said.

Replying to a question on the ongoing talks and the proposals on the table on confidence building measures, he said that “I am of the opinion that your President is doing the right thing”. He is putting forward, he added, “intelligent proposals” which made it possible for talks to resume.

“I am totally in favour of the confidence building measures which are on the table. I do like the ideas concerning the return of the city of Famagusta to its lawful inhabitants”, he said, adding that if he has the chance to lead the European Commission, it “would stick to the relevant UN Security Council resolutions”.

Juncker pointed out that “the Ankara Protocol has to be implemented and Turkey has to withdraw its troops”. The EU, he added, “has to be a facilitator in this process and to has to stand up if basic European values are not respected”.

He further expressed the hope that “the island will be reunited in the coming years”, taking into account all the consequences entailed for the dignity of this nation. “If you have a look on the positive economic spillover effects in case the island is reunited, there is no other option than reunification of the island”, he stressed.

Referring to the role Cyprus could play in improving Europe`s energy security, Juncker said that “given the fact that you have large reserves of natural resources in this region of the Mediterranean, if explored and exploited these natural resources will boost the European energy security”.

At the same time he stressed that “it has to be understood by everyone that Cyprus has the right to explore and exploit its natural resources”. In the next decade Cyprus will contribute more than other European countries to the European energy security, he noted.

Referring to his current visit to Cyprus, he said that he will not visit all EU member states because “that`s logistically and feasibly impossible, but I wanted to visit Cyprus and my friends in Cyprus”.

Juncker noted that coming from a small country, he is not campaigning only in large member states but also in small member states. Having been the Prime Minister of Luxemburg for nineteen years I am a specialist of small entities.

“I always considered that in Europe all states are equal in dignity”, he stressed, adding that he “never accepted the idea that bigger member states have a bigger say in Europe than smaller member states”.

Referring to Cyprus` 10 year anniversary since its EU accession, Juncker expressed the point of view that the EU “would not have been complete without Cyprus, because Cyprus in this part of Europe, in this complicated region is a pillar of stability”. And so, he added, in Europe we have the chance to have Cyprus with us.

He said he is “impressed by the recent economic performance of this country”. At the same time he acknowledged that the adjustment programme has imposed hard measures on the average Cypriot citizen. However, he expressed the point of view that “the government is leading the country out of the crisis, slowly but steadily”.

Juncker pointed out that the “economy has proven to be by far more resilient than forecast, the programme is on track”, adding that he is impressed by the ownership of Cypriot lawmakers when it comes to the adjustment programme.

“The banking sector has been stabilised, the internal capital controls have been removed. The fiscal consolidation has to be a pursuit. What is worrying is the high level of unemployment. We have to combine the need for fiscal consolidation and the need for growth and job creation policies.”

This is not a contradiction, he assured. “We need both, sound public finances and growth policies. We can`t spend money we don`t have and we don`t have the right to add deficits to deficits and public debt to public debt.”

“From a moral and democratic point of view it is not acceptable that the next generations will have to pay for the mistakes of our generation”, he pointed out.

He recalled that he supported Cyprus at very difficult moments for the country and that his support was heartfelt “because I like the people of this country; they are wise, they are well educated, they are down to earth, they are Cypriots”.

Replying to a question on the main challenges facing Europe, he said that “we have to be more successful when it comes to the combination between fiscal consolidation and growth policies”. At the same time he referred to the need to put into place a real European energy union, to tackle legal and illegal migration, and to put in place a European digital market.

On his part, Neophytou said Juncker is a great European leader, who has worked for the eurozone`s establishment and who believes in economic growth and social cohesion in Europe. He thanked him for standing by Cyprus and pledged that his party will do its best to support its candidature