The solution to the Cyprus problem would not only be "a huge benefit for the prosperity of the country's people," but would also lead to "a huge economic boost," stated American economist Jeffrey Sachs on Wednesday in his keynote address - via online participation - at AKEL's fourth economic forum, held in Nicosia.
Mr. Sachs also expressed hope that the recent change in leadership among Turkish Cypriots would signal a prospect for resolving the Cyprus issue.
He also referred to Cyprus's role in guiding the Eastern Mediterranean region towards a green, sustainable future.
He expressed the view that Europe is currently led by "warmongers" and that Cyprus is "paying the price for this."
According to Mr. Sachs, who is also a supporter of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the Eastern Mediterranean region must turn to renewable energy sources and set aside plans for more natural gas extraction.
He also said that wars and conflicts are a "distraction" from the environmental crisis.
"Everything would be better with peace," Mr. Sachs said in his speech, noting that Cyprus suffers from many of the consequences of conflicts in the region.
"Your island remains divided, a beautiful island, there is still no political solution, and that has a very significant economic cost," he said.
He further mentioned how relations with Russia regarding tourism, finance, and business have been affected due to the war in Ukraine.
The war in Israel and Gaza "is also a terrible blow to the region," he said.
"These wars, whether it's the conflict with Turkey, or the war between NATO and Russia in Ukraine, or Israel's war in Palestine, have a significant cost, not only for Cyprus, but for Europe as a whole, which is in a very deep crisis, and a crisis that unfortunately is worsening for Europe, not improving," said Mr. Sachs.
Europe, he added, "I'm sorry to say, is being led in a very bad way at the moment. It is led by people who are determined to pursue more conflicts and not solve the regional problems."
He also noted that the EU's stance on the war in Ukraine will "destroy Europe's economy and economic reputation in the world."
"Unfortunately, von der Leyen is a warmonger, Merz is a warmonger, Starmer is a warmonger, Macron is a warmonger, and I think Cyprus is paying the price for this," he mentioned.
"Far too much of Europe is trapped in a web of Russophobia, that Russia is going to attack Berlin or Paris. These belong to the world of fantasy," he argued, adding that Russia has opposed NATO expansion into Ukraine. "That is the beginning and the end of this war, that Russia did not want to be surrounded by American military bases, with American missile systems and so on," he added.
According to Mr. Sachs, "this is a war that was provoked by the United States, but now for some reason European leaders want to continue it."
"They want you to waste 5% of GDP on war spending, which is crazy, when this war would end diplomatically if Ukraine were neutral, and if NATO stopped its eastward expansion, and if the warmongers stopped dreaming of an escalated war with Russia," he said.
Mr. Sachs stated that he would like the wars to stop, "so that your business growth, tourism, green energy systems, links with the Middle East, with Russia, as a great bridge that Cyprus has been throughout its history, can truly fulfill their role."
"If you can solve the political crisis that has divided Cyprus for so many decades, this would not only be a huge benefit for the prosperity of the people of your wonderful country, because people have roots throughout the country. It would also be a boost for tourism, it would be a boost for construction, for investments. Because in reality, Cyprus and Turkey could have many trade transactions together very effectively. That would have very, very positive effects," said Mr. Sachs.
He expressed hope that the leadership change in the occupied part of the island would lead to a "prospect for a real unification of the island," which, "I think, would work wonders for your country."
Mr. Sachs also noted that all these wars "not only cost far too much in lives, in sorrow, and in economic terms, but also constitute a distraction from a very important thing, the long-term environmental crisis."
He said the Eastern Mediterranean "is extremely vulnerable" to the ongoing human-caused environmental changes and that this was something he had discussed with scientists at The Cyprus Institute, at Frederick University, and at other academic centers in Cyprus for two decades.
He said he encouraged "many years ago," with then-President Nicos Anastasiades and The Cyprus Institute, an active effort to bring Eastern Mediterranean and Middle Eastern countries closer together to collaborate on climate change resilience and converting the energy system to renewable sources.
"Cyprus has wonderful sunshine, wonderful solar potential, and wonderful scientists who understand all these issues very, very well," he said.
Referring to Mediterranean natural gas, he noted that "everyone is shortsighted" and that extracting more natural gas is "the last thing the region needs. The region needs to turn to renewable energy sources along with the whole world," he added.
"Therefore, I want the wars to stop, not only because they are devastating, but also to redirect our attention to our long-term social and environmental sustainability," he added. "And I believe that as you are at the heart of the culture that Cyprus represents, there is a significant transformation towards sustainable development. So, this is what I hope our economies will begin to focus on. But first, we must stop the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, help reunite your wonderful country, and then encourage the active cooperation of the region's countries on the truly important things we should be focusing on," said Mr. Sachs.
He also mentioned that "unfortunately, Europe is acting like a vassal of the United States and is militarizing very quickly. This is a completely mistaken approach," he continued.
"My hope is that Europe will have common sense, will have strategic autonomy, and that it will defend its position as a green, digital, peaceful union," he stated, adding that unfortunately this is not happening at the moment.
Original article: philenews.com