Nicolas Schmit, Minister Delegate for Foreign Affairs stated that, "the Presidency and the Commission came to Cyprus to contribute to facilitating contacts and dialogue between the two communities and to prepare ground for reconciliation".
Olli Rehn, European Commissioner in charge of enlargement added: "Our primary objective is the reunification of Cyprus. Now there is fresh momentum we have to capitalise on. The Presidency and the Commission are willing to play an active and prominent role. However, negotiations on a comprehensive settlement will take place under UN auspices. But to get there we need first to focus on concrete confidence building measures. The adoption of the trade and aid proposals of the Commission is of utmost importance in that context".
Nicolas Schmit said that "the Presidency is committed to bring movement into this matter in order to proceed further with the adoption of the two regulations. We will do the utmost to prepare a balanced solution for both communities. It is now time to open up again towards talks over a comprehensive settlement. In order to succeed we have to bring in a European spirit of compromise".
(released by the Luxembourg Presidency of the Council of the European Union)