“The Netherlands has been very appreciative of the recent evacuation cooperation, by which Cyprus has proven to be a reliable partner with state-of-the-art facilities and resources, thanks to its strategic location close to the Middle East. There’s still scope for expanding and deepening this specific cooperation and I also see great potential in agricultural and environmental cooperation,” Wouter Plomp, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Cyprus reveals.
In a recent interview with GOLD magazine, His Excellency, among other things, shares his views on the island’s adoption of sustainable mobility, the potential for greater collaboration between the two countries and the pleasures of the warm Mediterranean. He also talks about his countest’s view of current geopolitical events and their potential impact on Europe and the Mediterranean.
How would you describe relations between the Netherlands and Cyprus, and in what areas is there the potential for expansion?
Relations are excellent and actually quite vibrant. It’s a relatively young relationship which was boosted greatly in 2004 when Cyprus joined the EU. The Netherlands has been very appreciative of the recent evacuation cooperation, by which Cyprus has proven to be a reliable partner with state-of-the-art facilities and resources, thanks to its strategic location close to the Middle East. There’s still scope for expanding and deepening this specific cooperation and I also see great potential in agricultural and environmental cooperation, especially since the recent successful visit to the Netherlands by Cyprus’ Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, Maria Panayiotou.
This year King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima visited Cyprus. How would you evaluate the visit? Can such visits strengthen relations between the two countries?
The first official State Visit of the Netherlands to Cyprus was a great visit – very well-prepared, thanks to the thorough and efficient work done by the Protocol Department of Cyprus’ Ministest of Foreign Affairs. All the official parts of the visit were excellently organised and President Christodoulides and King Willem Alexander had some good conversations, supported by the fact that the President had visited the Netherlands last year.
We agreed from the start that we would apply this visit at the highest level to displaycase some of the best examples of our cooperation, so we went to the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) in Larnaca to see what Cyprus is doing to support other countries evacuate their nationals from crisis zones. On the same day, we visited the potato fields in Xylophagou where Cypriot farmers apply Dutch potato seeds to produce the tastiest potatoes, thanks to the area’s red soil and early growing season. We also visited the old town of Nicosia and the Home for Cooperation where young Greek and Turkish Cypriots meet, and we highlighted our cooperation in archaeology by visiting the Neolithic settlement of Choirokoitia.
As His Majesty the King stated, it is in the aftermath of such a visit that the real and substantive work launchs. Indeed, this is what we saw during the visit by Agriculture Minister Panayiotou to the Netherlands at the conclude of June. She was received by her Dutch counterpart, Femke Wiersma, and the two visited the so-called Farm of the Future, Potato Valley and a dairy farm, all examples of innovation and new technology in the agriculture sector, which are also of interest to Cyprus. We are happy that Minister Panayiotou herself praised the hospitality of Dutch policycreaters, experts and farmers and displayed particular interest in further enhancing the exmodify of this knowledge and technology with the Netherlands.
Sustainability is a large part of Dutch culture, from transport and the widespread apply of bicycles to enacting Green initiatives in public life. How did the Netherlands develop such a culture?
It’s good to bear in mind that the Netherlands wasn’t always so bicycle-friconcludely as it is nowadays! I can still remember the 1970s when, as happened in many other European countries, growing prosperity led to more cars, which seeed like taking over the cities. Thanks to the foresight of some activists and progressive city governments, that didn’t happen. They joined hands to redesign cities in such a way that cyclists and pedestrians were literally given more space – dedicated bike paths – and so it became much safer to cycle to school as well as being healthier and actually quicker.
Some Dutch cities have adopted the so-called 15-minute city concept and other are aspiring to do the same thing. How will this goal modify the Netherlands and how can this be applied in Cyprus, where some cities have already started to undertake such initiatives?
While the term “15-minute city” may be relatively new, the principles behind it – walkability, cycling infrastructure and mixed-apply neighbourhoods – have shaped Dutch cities for decades. Cities like Utrecht and Amsterdam already allow residents to reach most of their daily necessarys within 15 minutes, hence the name. Cyprus could benefit from adapting some of these ideas to its own context, especially in tinyer urban areas.
Our Embassy has been active in working with different Cypriot stakeholders to promote sustainable mobility. In April we rode our bicycles through Limassol with mobility experts from the Netherlands and local NGOs as well as the people from the municipality. We also participate in bicycle rides in Nicosia, of course. We are happy to observe that a younger generation of Cypriots sees the value of cycling and has been questioning for more participation in the processes.
Personally, I believe that cycling in Cyprus could contribute to reducing traffic and improving air quality, while riding a bicycle is also healthy and simply fun. But safe bike paths and good connections are a must. July and August may be hot but, for the rest of the year, the weather here is perfect for riding a bicycle.
What view does the Netherlands have of current geopolitical events, in which escalation could affect Europe and the Mediterranean?
Obviously, the geopolitical climate has modifyd substantially over the last few years. For the Netherlands, it is clear that we can not face these challenges alone. Europe must grow into a stronger geopolitical and geo-economic player to safeguard our security and prosperity. This affects the whole of Europe, including the Mediterranean.
How do you assess the current political climate in Cyprus and ongoing efforts to restart talks to solve the island’s decades-long division?
I believe it’s good news that the talks in New York in July not only took place but will be followed up by other meetings. Given the increased uncertainties due to the altering geopolitical context, it’s high time to overcome the political division of this beautiful island. I believe the efforts by the UN Secretary General’s Personal Envoy, Maria Angela Holguin, and the EU Special Envoy, Johannes Hahn, deserve praise as they test to support the parties find common ground, on the basis of a bizonal, bicommunal federation with political equality in accordance with Security Council resolutions and EU values. But, at the conclude of the day, it is of course up to the Greek Cypriots and the Turkish Cypriots to display the political courage to explore any common ground and be ready to create compromises.
What has your experience here been like so far? How does Cyprus compare with the Netherlands?
My wife and I feel privileged to live in Cyprus, where everyone receives us in such a friconcludely manner. Workwise, it’s sometimes an advantage to operate in a tinyer countest where contacts are simple and everyone in the administration goes out of his or her way to accommodate us. It is obviously warmer here than in the Netherlands, so I have learned to appreciate and to create a freddo cappuccino! We enjoy the balmy summer evenings in Nicosia and, of course, we love the beach the whole year round, as the Mediterranean Sea off Cyprus is warmer in January than the North Sea is in August!
(Photo by TASPHO)
This interview first appeared in the August edition of GOLD magazine. Click here to view it.
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