The Cyprus issue was the focus of the discussion held today between delegations of the Democratic Party under its President Mario Karoyan and Presidential candidate Averof Neophytou.
A new meeting will follow, they said, to discuss internal governance issues and the PPCD will make its decisions on the presidential election after it has completed its contacts with all the candidates.
In statements after the meeting, Karoyan said the issue discussed today was the Cyprus problem, touching also on issues related to energy and defence. "There was a very fruitful dialogue, we had the opportunity to listen carefully to what Averof Neophytou considers as priorities, initiatives or moves in relation to the development of our national issue and any possible developments in relation to the resumption of negotiations, even though it was our common realization that at the moment there are no conditions and prerequisites to start a dialogue due to the well-known Turkish attitude, behavior and provocativeness," he said.
Karoyan said they also discussed some geopolitical issues concerning the wider region as well as the international scene as a result of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which paves the way for an undeclared cold war.
The discussion focused on how these developments affect the country and our region and what the Republic of Cyprus can expect in this web of upheavals and adjustments, he added.
Karoyan said that the DPA considers these discussions as very useful because, he noted, political forces need to exchange views.
"We consider this as well as the next ones that we will have with other candidates for the Presidency of the Republic to be part of our efforts to seek broader political consensus that will benefit the country, take the country forward and face the risks, challenges and take advantage of whatever opportunities we have in front of us," he said. Regardless, he continued, "of whatever choice each political party will make in the end, we believe that the more meaningful and creative we discuss policy initiatives, policy positions and the wider the range of consensus and convergences, the more helpful it will be for our country."
The DPA President said that they agreed with Averof Neophytou to have a second meeting in which they will touch upon issues related to internal governance.
In conclusion, Karoyan thanked the presidential candidate for the meeting and the positions he shared with them. "In the end, our party will take into account after having the views of the entire political spectrum and will make its decisions, at the time it considers to be the most ideal when it has a clear picture in front of it of the policies and visions, and in the end it will make its own decisions."
For his part, Mr. Neophytou, after thanking Mr. Karoyan and the delegation for the meeting, said the presidential elections are about the course of our country, about the stakes of whether our country will continue with stability and security or whether we will risk setbacks."
He said he enjoyed the discussion which turned to what they prioritize as the most serious. "To talk about policies that you are thinking about implementing, you have to make sure that you have a place, you have a homeland, which is why today's meeting started from the top issue, the Cyprus problem," he said. Neophytou said that the positions of DISY and the DPA are not unknown, noting that "we are moving in the broader logic that we must, despite Turkey's intransigence, try with all our strength to solve the Cyprus problem on the agreed basis of a bicommunal, bizonal federation with political equality."
The presidential candidate said they also discussed energy, geostrategic issues, the crisis the whole world is facing with the Russia-Ukraine war.
"We renew our appointment in a good mood, with the good of the country in mind," he said and thanked for the very constructive discussion.
Source: CNA
Contents of this article including associated images are belongs Cyprus Times
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or Cyprus Times
Source
