REVISED 30.9.08

WELCOME BY MR LLUĺS MARIA DE PUIG,

PRESIDENT OF THE PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY

TO MR DEMETRIS CHRISTOFIAS,

PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF CYPRUS

(Strasbourg, Tuesday 30 September 2008)

Mr President, it is a great pleasure for me to welcome you in our midst.

Europe and the whole world are encouraged by the new beginning in the political process aimed at re-unifying the island of Cyprus. It has been divided for too long. We know that this process is very much based on your personal commitment which you expressed immediately after taking office last February, and on your constructive relation with Mr Talat, who will address this Assembly tomorrow.

The people of Cyprus – both from the South and from the North – would be the first beneficiary of the “dividends of peace” when the island of Cyprus is finally reunited. Yet reaching a just and viable settlement in Cyprus has a much broader international dimension:

• if you succeed, Cyprus will show an example of solving a frozen conflict;

• if you fail, it will send an extremely bad signal, with consequences difficult to over-estimate.

That is why we cannot fail: in the Assembly, are ready to provide you any help and support that you may require in order to succeed in this endeavour.

Mr President, you have the floor.