We are called, as Cyprus, and we do so to act proactively in order to prevent the creation of any new fait accompli, and through diplomatic channels we are taking all necessary actions and steps to prevent any illegal action, Government Spokesman, Marios Pelekanos, said today.
In his statements to journalists on the sidelines of the second event for the presentation of the "Cyprus - Tomorrow" Plan at the Nicosia Mall in Nicosia. Pelecanos was asked about the statements by the Turkish Cypriot side about the opening of a second area in the enclosed city of Famagusta and the Turkish provocations, he said that as far as Famagusta is concerned, we see a continuation of these provocative statements that we have been hearing all along.
"Of course, the Government and the President of the Republic himself, and the Foreign Minister, but also through diplomatic channels we are taking all necessary actions and steps in order to prevent any illegal action from happening, whether it concerns our Exclusive Economic Zone or our territory or the enclosed area of Famagusta," he said.
It is a fact, he continued, that there is currently a stalemate in the Cyprus problem due to continued and overt Turkish intransigence. We are seeing, he added, a new revisionist behavior much more aggressive than before on the part of Turkey, which is not only manifesting itself in the case of Cyprus, but we see provocations occurring in the Aegean and Libya and Iraq and Nagorno Karabakh and so on.
We are called upon, as Cyprus, and this is what we are doing, to act proactively in order to prevent the creation of any new fait accompli, but at the same time to work in such a way that we create the conditions to return to the dialogue table, Pelecanos said. We see, he continued, that the other side, after Mr. Tatar's ascension to power of the Turkish Cypriot community, continues to demand that equal sovereign rights be recognized to the illegal entity before accepting to take any step in the Cyprus problem. Of course, he stressed, this will not be accepted.
"We will continue to work and intensify our efforts to return to the dialogue table within the framework set by the Security Council resolutions," he said.
Pelecanos also said that in this direction the President of the Republic had meetings with French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and the meeting with the eight leaders of the Mediterranean countries. He noted that "we have also seen the joint declaration, which we are fully satisfied with as it makes it clear that the claim to change the framework for a solution will not be accepted."
Asked if there is any news on the involvement of the European Union and the United Nations in the Cyprus settlement process, Pelecanos said that it is a decision of the UN Secretary General himself, a decision that was communicated to both sides more than a year ago. In fact, he continued, it is a decision that the Secretary-General had discussed with the two leaders in September 2021 in New York and has been pending ever since.
He added that it is positive that we have the involvement of senior UN officials, such as the Assistant Secretary-General, Mr. Yegia, who recently visited Cyprus. He also said that if the SG goes ahead with the appointment of an envoy, either special or staff, then a better preparation of the ground could be done. As far as EU involvement is concerned, he said, some time should be given since just a few weeks ago President Anastasiades held meetings with the leaders of Germany and France and the day before yesterday was the discussion with the leaders of the Mediterranean states.
Commenting on the pan-European energy crisis, Mr. Pelecanos said that the states in our region, Israel, Egypt, Lebanon, Lebanon, the Republic of Cyprus and other states in the region are all showing a good will to cooperate in order to exploit our region and contribute to the EU's goals of decoupling from Russian fossil fuels, oil and gas. Unfortunately, he continued, Turkey remains uncooperative and continues to threaten Cyprus and illegally claim part of the EEZ. "But this will not prevent the efforts we are making in cooperation with other neighbouring states," he said.
On the Plan "Cyprus - Tomorrow" Pelecanos said that "this is a Plan that is very important to be promoted as it concerns every Cypriot, every Cypriot, every one of our fellow citizens."
Pelecanos said that "it is a Plan that is very important to be promoted as it concerns every Cypriot, every one of our fellow citizens.
It is a Plan, he added, designed by Cypriots for Cypriots, a Plan that will inject into our economy amounts exceeding 4 billion euros, with the aim and purpose of seeing the implementation of various reforms, various development projects relating to different pillars such as health, education, employment and so on. He added that the Plan is the legacy of the government of Nicos Anastasiades to future generations.
Source: KYPE
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