We should use the momentum and the same courage to give
impetus to the stalled Middle East peace process.
Here too it depends on trust-building measures
and we encourage all sides because one thing is also clear:
a long-lasting stability and peace in the region requires a solution
to the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.
We see that the Emirates, Israel and Germany have a common
interest in more tolerance, more diversity for more
multilateralism, in fairness in the region.
A few hours ago there was a historic visit at the Holocaust Memorial.
For me that was a very moving visit, as a representative of
the government of Israel, as former army chief and as
the son of a Holocaust survivor. Facing a monument, in the place
where the main headquarters of the Nazi animal that decreed the fate
of six million Jews of my fellow brethren, we stood the three
of us in deafening silence. The Foreign Ministers of the Israeli
government, the German government and for the first time
in history, a foreign minister of an Arab country.
As long as there continues to be a steady influx of military equipment,
weapons and personnel to the warring parties, there will be no escape
from this military dead end. And that's why I reminded all
the participants today about their commitments made at the Berlin
conference, especially regarding the weapons embargo.
These measures are welcome but they are purely technical
and let me stress this point, these are measures that have
come after the crisis, they have not deterred it, because in such
important choices we need to see the political will of governments,
their intention to comply with international legality and their
wish to live peacefully and collaborate with
the remaining states. Therefore I repeat, that it is up to
Turkey to close the road of crisis and open the road of solution.
We are ready to meet them on this second road. I am confident this
is the road we will follow, because this is the road
that is in the benefit of both of us.
According to the road map that we had prepared,
our process had reached a certain level and now we are making
our first solid step. We are starting the process
to make people use the public areas of our land, Sahil
and Demokrasi streets, and the beach.
Maras (Varosha) which was like a ghost town is
now coming back to life.
God willing, we will start to use the Maras beach
on Thursday morning together with our people.
It is Turkish Cypriot authorities who have a right to say here.
So under the light of this truth, we are fully supporting your
decision of opening the beautiful beach of Maras for the use
of your people, according to your road map.