An interview with President of Cyprus

Invited by Chinese President Hu Jintao, Pesident of the Republic of Cyprus Tassos Papadopoulos will pay a state visit to China on Dec.4-8. Before his depature, Papadopoulos received an interview from reporters of People's Daily and Global Times at the Presidential Palace in Nicosia, talking about China-Cyprus relations and some other important issues of concern. Below is an edited transcript of the interview.

Q: We are here to convey to you warm greetings from the Editor in Chief of the People's Daily. As this year marks the 35th anniversary of the establishment of relations between China and Cyprus, you will have a state visit to China in December.

A: Yes, from 4th to 8th December 2006.

Q: This will be a good event for China and Cyprus as well. Both the government and the press pay a lot of attention to this event, so we expect that your visit to China will contribute significantly to the expansion of diplomatic relations between the two countries. So, we have some questions before your visit to China.

A: First of all, let me say that I am very glad to be received in China. I consider it a great pleasure, a great honour, and I hope that my visit will further strengthen the excellent relations that already exist between China and the Republic of Cyprus.

Q: How would you describe these China ¨C Cyprus relations in recent years and what do you think the future will look like?

A: We have first of all excellent relations on a bilateral level. Moreover, we have been cooperating with China in the Security Council of the United Nations, China being one of the five permanent members, and thirdly, more and more issues relating to China and trade arise in the framework of the European Union, of which Cyprus is a full member.

Let's go back to our bilateral relations. Ever since the independence of Cyprus, we have had relations with China, which followed a process of continuous improvement. All my predecessors visited China and we have frequent exchanges of visits by Chinese dignitaries, officials, representatives of the People's Parliament, and officials of political parties.

The Cyprus government has given at least two major government works to Chinese companies, one in connection with the highway between Limassol and Paphos. (A Chinese construction company built one fourth of that highway, as we split the project into four different contracts.) Also, another Chinese company constructed a water pumping system, for our southern conveyor belt, that's what we call it, which is transferring water from one area of Cyprus to another, from Paphos to the Famagusta area.

In both cases, the companies of your country delivered not only exceedingly good quality, but they also completed the projects on time.

Q: So, we were efficient.

A: Very efficient, yes.

Q: Who invested in these projects, are they Chinese investments?

A: No, they are financed by the Cyprus government. Cyprus also bought some defense material from China, but I can't go into details about that.

Q: How are the trade relations between Cyprus and China?

A: There are many Cypriot companies, which export goods to China and there is rising trade between China and Cyprus. More Chinese goods are being imported and sold to Cyprus. In the past, we would say "good Chinese goods, which are cheap", now the saying is "excellent quality and cheap prices". We watch with admiration the immense progress that China is making, having one of the highest rates of growth all over the world. It is, in fact, one of the fastest growing economies.

Q: You mean the rate of growth in terms of the GDP?

A: Yes, the rate of growth. You have around 10%, or over 10%, while the average in Europe is 2% to 3% and in Cyprus it is only 4%.

Q: Have you visited China before?

A: I have visited China several times, in my private capacity. Six times in total.

Q: And what was the purpose of those trips?

A: I visited China as a tourist and on business; as a lawyer I represented the HSBC bank, which was called Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank at the time.

Q: What about cultural relations?

A: Cyprus and China share cultural interests too. The Cypriots, who also have a long history and cultural tradition, have the opportunity of admiring the superb Chinese history and culture, through several cultural events.

Q: So, this is all about the bilateral relations. Let's now turn to the Security Council.

A: All these years of developments in the Cyprus problem, China has consistently followed a principled position concerning Cyprus. Your country always supported the United Nations Resolutions on Cyprus, it always supported us in the UN Security Council, whenever we had problems.

Q: How do you wish the Security Council to deal with matters relating to Cyprus?

A: If I may say so, since I took over, I made it a point to the United Nations that we want all five members of the Security Council to be equally involved in any discussion concerning the Cyprus problem, because previously, two or three members had a monopoly. Now, it's a point we make that all five members must be fully briefed and they all have an active role in every discussion concerning Cyprus and the Cyprus problem, which as you know is a question of invasion and occupation.

Q: So, all the five members are working together now?

A: Well, we asked the UN Secretary General to keep all the members informed and briefed, at all times, on developments regarding the Cyprus problem and not restrict his initiatives to just one or two Security Council members. Until now, it was only the United States and the United Kingdom which were involved about Cyprus, while the other three members, France, China and Russia were kept out, only to be told the story at the end. China has now an excellent representative in the Security Council, whom I met when I was there in September. I asked him for China's active interest whenever there are developments within the United Nations concerning Cyprus.

Q: So, we will respect the reunification process going on in Cyprus and we think Cyprus should remain as a whole, unseparated and undivided and the Chinese government will try to help Cyprus in this process. But we also need your support. China also needs Cyprus' support for the One-China policy and we respect your stance towards this.

A: That's why I said China has been following a principled position on Cyprus. It believes in the principles of an independent, sovereign, unified Cyprus. On our side, we always supported the idea of One-China. In my speeches in the United Nations and elsewhere, I strongly support this idea. We see great similarities between the Cyprus problem and Taiwan. Our enemies talk about finding a solution in Cyprus which will bring about what they call a "Taiwanised Cyprus", but of course I know that China would not like to see that anomaly being repeated in Cyprus. Whenever we can, we also vote for Chinese candidates, as we did recently in the WHO.

Q: In the WHO, you mean you voted for China?

A: We voted for China, yes. You may learn from your Ambassador in Cyprus, who is an excellent diplomat - he speaks also Greek - that I make it a point to brief him myself on whatever developments there are in Cyprus, all the time. We don't go to China only when we need China. There is a continuous briefing on developments, by me personally.

Q: How about the situation within the European Union?

A: In the European Union, since we became a member we have supported France, which usually is the leading country in terminating the so-called boycott of China. Your government could tell you how actively we supported China recently in the question of import duties imposed on Chinese textiles and shoes. It was our proposal that the tax, which was suggested to apply for five years, should only apply for two years and after that no tax. Of course that was a compromise, it was the maximum we could achieve. Thirteen votes were needed for the proposal to pass and Cyprus was the 13th EU member, so our vote was very important. So, this is about our relations with China. As you see, you have here a friend, a supporter.

Q: So, what are your expectations for the further relations between Cyprus and China, especially the cooperation in trade, commerce and industry and other fields, like tourism?

A: We want to see a further expansion of our relations, further strengthening of exchanges, of ideas and of trade and cooperation in policies which are helping both countries, both sides.

Q: Can you elaborate?

A: As far as policies are concerned, there are problems every day, not only in Cyprus, but all over the world. We want to help China, whenever we can. We are fully aware of our smallness. We are a small country, but to the extent that we can in any way help, you will find us to be very responsive, very positive. As for trade and industry, I asked whoever was interested to follow me to China, and there are over 100 people, who have already indicated their wish to accompany me on this trip.

Q: So, will many Ministers be accompanying you to China?

A: The Minister of Foreign Affairs would have accompanied me, but he has to be in Brussels for the Cyprus issue on the 11th December, so there is no time for him to go and return to Brussels. So, two other ministers will come with me, the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism. You must remember that Cyprus, by constitution, can only have 11 ministries, no more, so we don't have many, like you have in China.

Q: Back to the Cyprus problem, where do you think the process to solve the problem is headed?

A: Our principle is that the Cyprus problem must be solved under the umbrella of the United Nations. We think that's the proper forum in which to discuss the Cyprus problem, Of course, now we are a full member of the EU, Greece is a member of the EU, the United Kingdom is in the EU - I am mentioning three of the protagonists- and Turkey wishes to also join the EU. So, all four directly involved parties in the Cyprus problem, are one way or the other related with the EU. This is why we think the EU must have a more active role and interest in the solution of the Cyprus problem. Basically, all our efforts are guided by the Secretary General of the United Nations, so we have been asking him for some time now, to start a new effort for negotiations on the Cyprus problem. We believe that the Cyprus problem can only be solved through negotiations, there is no other way, no other forum except the United Nations. So, China being a permanent member of the Security Council, inevitably has a role to play, especially since some of our "enemies" try, either in practice or otherwise, to implement a Taiwanese set up in Cyprus. China has therefore an added interest to see that this does not happen. As we support the One-China principle, we are sure China, which follows principles will support one unified, sovereign, independent Cyprus.

Q: So, Cyprus has been a member of the European Union for how long?

A: For two years.

Q: How do you think Cyprus has benefited from joining and do you face any challenges, and problems?

A: Joining the EU is not an easy task. You have to bring your legislation, your institutions, your economy up to the levels laid down by the European Union. That's not very easy and it is very expensive. Cyprus did not receive any pre-accession funds. When other applicant countries apply to become EU members, they get money from the EU in order to harmonise their economy etc. We, however, paid all our expenses ourselves.

Q: Why?

A: The EU thought we did not qualify for the schemes of the European Union, because our per capita income was more than the average of the EU. The cost to us was equal to about 18 months' budget. To bring our institutions, our legislation, our measures in line with the EU, cost us as much as the government pays for 18 months for functioning. We still are what they call net contributors, that is, we pay more money to the EU than we receive.

Q: So, you are still paying more than what you can receive.

A: Yes, because that's judged by your per capita income, your GPD, and many other considerations.

Q: So, how do you think the situation can change?

A: Well, the European Union is not all bad things. The EU wants you to have standards which improve the quality of the life of the people. You have to comply on the safety of food, for example, conditions of hygiene, the environment, your banking system must be well controlled and healthy, your taxation system must be such as to meet social standards which the EU determines. So, if you wish to join the EU you must, sooner or later, do all these things which are good for a country. But when you are about to join, you are pressed to apply these changes more quickly. Instead of in ten years' time, you are obliged to complete this process during your pre-accession period.

Q: So, you actually think it is good for Cyprus.

A: On the whole, yes. We always had in Cyprus, unlike the other applicant countries which joined with us, a free economy. And yet, within two years, we had to enact more than 800 different laws and about 1500 regulations had to be passed by our parliament before accession.

Q: So Cyprus passed all of these?

A: Yes, we did. But, they never stop. There are always new directives, every day there is something else. Whether it is your potatoes, or your grapes or your oranges, there are standards with which you have to comply. But despite this, it is good because all these improve the quality of life of the citizens and make the country stronger financially.

Q: Cyprus is a country of great history and civilisation and so is China. We have good relations and a long friendship. Is there anything you would like to say to the Chinese through our paper, the People's Daily?

A: Well, everybody admires the progress being made in China on the financial front and all its development efforts. So, I think that the whole world now realises that China is a very important economic, financial and trading partner. If not the biggest, it is certainly one of the leading ones in the world.

Q: How big are we to Cyprus? Are we trading partners?

A: Well, we are trading partners within the rules set down by the EU. Once you join the EU, all your bilateral trade agreements with third countries are governed by certain rules of the Union. However, China is a huge country, with a huge economy. We are a very tiny island, so if you encourage, for example, 0.00001% of your tourists to come to Cyprus, you will flood our country! When your Minister of Foreign Affairs visited Cyprus, I think a few months back, and he asked me in the end of our meeting "is there anything China can do on tourism?" I said to him "you are already having a wave of tourists going to Egypt. If we agree that they spend five days in Egypt and two days in Cyprus, this would help us reach the limit of how many tourists we can receive!" That's why I say 0.00001%.

Q: A few words to end?

A: I'm looking forward to visiting China again, seeing the tremendous progress China has made, learning from China a lot of things and further strengthening our excellent relations.

Q: China is still a developing country, so, I don't know if it can meet your expectations.

A: Given what I know about China, I think it is more than likely to meet my expectations.

By Shuiming Liu from People's Daily and Xueqing Jiang from Global Times