The EU must make a decisive contribution to the de-escalation of the Middle East crisis, calling on all parties involved to show absolute restraint, Cyprus' Deputy Minister of European Affairs Marilena Raouna said at the EU General Affairs Council meeting which took place on Tuesday in Luxembourg, and which dealt with, among other things, preparations for the European Council that will take place in Brussels on Thursday and Friday. According to an announcement by the Deputy Ministry, the Council dealt with preparations for the European Council meeting and its topics such as the Middle East, the migration issue, Ukraine, competitiveness, as well as EU-Switzerland and EU-United Kingdom relations. In the framework of the debate on the European Semester 2024, the Council adopted comprehensive country-specific recommendations and forwarded them to the European Council for final decisions. In addition, the Council adopted a declaration on safeguarding Jewish life and combating anti-Semitism, it said. In her inte rvention on the Middle East, Raouna noted that, one year since the October 7 terrorist attack, 'we are, unfortunately, on the brink of a potentially catastrophic escalation'. The EU must make a decisive contribution to the de-escalation of the crisis, calling on all parties involved to show absolute restraint, she said. This was, Raouna said, the joint message from the MED9 Summit hosted by Cyprus last Friday and attended by King Abdullah II of Jordan. She also noted that President Nikos Christodoulides is to inform the European Council about the results of the Summit, but also about the results of his dinner on Tuesday evening with the Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar in New York, in the presence of the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres. She noted that the dinner was the result of the persistent efforts of President Christodoulides for the restart of the talks for the settlement of the Cyprus problem based on the agreed framework as determined in relevant UN Security Council conclusions. Turkey's act ive contribution to the efforts of the UN Secretary-General is of critical importance, as is also recorded in the April European Council Conclusions, she noted. Raouna also emphasised that Cyprus, consistent with its role in the region, either through the delivery of humanitarian aid through the humanitarian corridor, or as a safe evacuation centre, has activated the relevant mechanisms and was fully prepared to respond to developments. We are already facilitating the safe evacuation of civilians from conflict areas, including EU citizens, she stressed. Regarding migration, the Deputy Minister pointed out that the issue remains a top priority for all member states, including Cyprus, due to the possible new migration pressures due to the situation in the Middle East. Cyprus, she emphasised, supports the full implementation of the Pact on Migration and Asylum with a balance between the solidarity and responsibility of the member states. Raouna also said that, together with the UN High Commissioner for Refugee s, and with respect to international law, the issue of returns to Syria should also be examined. Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively. Source: Cyprus News Agency