FAMAGUSTA GAZETTE – Germany’s Ambassador to Cyprus, Anke Schlimm, has warned that pursuing a two-state solution for Cyprus would create new complications.
In a farewell interview with Fileleftheros, marking the end of her diplomatic term, Schlimm reaffirmed Germany’s commitment to a settlement based on UN parameters and EU principles.
She emphasized the importance of Confidence-Building Measures (CBMs), particularly the “IMAGINE” program and efforts to determine the fate of missing persons. Schlimm noted that mutual trust in long-standing disputes cannot be built overnight, but must be cultivated gradually through small, consistent steps.
“Realism and a shared European identity,” she said, “will pave the way for a lasting and fair solution.” Schlimm cautioned that proposals such as permanent partition or a two-state model stray from the UN framework and complicate the EU’s ability to help resolve the Cyprus issue. She added that this stance also carries weight in shaping future EU-Turkey relations.