Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero on Monday set out his country's priorities as next European Union presidency after talks in Nicosia with Cyprus President Demetris Christofias.
Zapatero said that during his meeting with Christofias, he outlined the four important goals of the EU Spanish Presidency as of Jan. 1, 2010.
"These goals are the financial development and the EU financial future, external relations with the Mediterranean, the Middle East, Latin America, Russia and the inter-Atlantic relations, the broadening of EU citizens' rights, focusing on equality between the two sexes and the quick
implementation of the Lisbon Treaty," Zapatero told reporters after the talks.
Zapatero arrived in Cyprus on Christmas Day on a private holiday trip.
He said that he discussed with President Christofias bilateral relations and the peace talks aiming at Cyprus' reunification, saying he
could not take up the presidency of the European Union on New Year's Day without having a first-hand knowledge of the issues concerning Cyprus.
"We will give our full support to this process, we will encourage as much as we can this negotiating process and to the extent we will be asked or we can do something we will try to contribute to its successful development," Zapatero said at a joint press conference with Christofias.
He added that he welcomes this process on the basis set out by the relevant UN resolutions and within the EU framework.
Zapatero's comments came on the eve of intensified talks agreed between President Christofias, who is also the Greek Cypriot community leader, and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat with a view to narrowing existing gaps in the positions of the two sides on a settlement which will reunify Cyprus.
The island was partitioned into Greek and Turkish Cypriot areas after a 1974 Turkish military intervention in response to a coup by Greek army officers.
Christofias said he assured Zapatero that Cyprus supports Turkey's full accession to the EU, but added that this cannot be done without Turkey fulfilling its obligations toward the EU and Cyprus.
He also told Zapatero that the Cyprus government is ready for a settlement the soonest possible.
"We reiterated our commitment that we will do our utmost so that these talks bring the outcome that we desire," said Christofias.