“Cyprus is an island, too small to be divided into two, in a larger and larger Europe”. These are the words of the Foreign Minister of the Republic of Cyprus, George Lillikas, hosted in Rome by Fondazione Dragàn, for the celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of the Treaties of Rome, as he greeted yesterday the journalists at the press conference. "Despite the unilateral demolition of our defensive wall in the centre of the divided capital”, on March 9th, said Lillikas, “the Turkish side refuses to accept the army’s retreat” and “the nature of Cyprus’ problem remains the same: the use of force against a sovereign state, a division that is maintained by aggression and occupation, massive and persistent violations of human rights, destruction of the religious and cultural heritage, usurpation of properties, forced segregation of the population and the attempt to impose the existence of a separated entity in the occupied area”. While "the peoples and the states of Europe have left behind centuries of wars and ruinous conflicts to build together a new political culture based on dialogue and on a universal code of principles and values”. So, "peace, economic progress and social wellbeing are achievable targets if there is cooperation, dialogue and goodwill”. Hence the Cypriots’ hope: "We can live in harmony in mutual respect in a united European Cyprus”.
