The President of the Republic Mr.Nicos Christodoulides, after completing his opening statement at the Press Conference after the European Council in Brussels yesterday, answered to journalists' questions as follows:
Question: Can you tell us something more in relation to your discussion with the Secretary General? We saw you talking for several minutes before the lunch started and we would like you to tell us, if you could, first of all, whether he conveyed to you any of his own assessment either of the timing or of the circumstances, of the possibilities of resuming the talks. And secondly, whether there will be a meeting in the coming months at a bilateral level on a more extended time scale.
President of the Republic: Let me make it clear that I neither want nor is it appropriate for me to speak on behalf of the Secretary-General of the United Nations. But what I can tell you is that he was fully aware of our proposal. He was informed by Ms DiCarlo who was in Cyprus. He wishes to contribute to the resumption of the talks as soon as possible. The milestone, which he mentioned to me, and I have no hesitation in mentioning it because it was something that came out of all the discussions, is that immediately after the elections in Turkey that a concrete initiative to resume the talks from where they left off in Crans-Montana. Does the Secretary-General consider, and I can mention this because it was conveyed during the meeting between Mr Michel and Mr Guterres, the more active involvement of the European Union as a positive fact in the effort to break the deadlock, but also to move forward to achieve the objective of resolving the Cyprus problem.
Question: Until the elections in Turkey in May, has the Secretary General expressed interest in a new mission or will we wait for the end of the elections and beyond?
President: I expect that there will be a visit to Cyprus by a United Nations official before the elections in Turkey. Moreover, as I mentioned to you, particularly with the dimension of the European Union, the two Presidents, the Commission and the Council, but also some member states of the European Union, throughout this period until the elections in Turkey, we will enter into a more concrete discussion on how to translate our proposal into action so that it can be manifested immediately after the elections. It is not - on the contrary I would say - the time until the elections in Turkey is not wasted, it is crucial to prepare the ground.
Question: If this proposal goes ahead, in what form will it be adopted? Will it be in European Council Conclusions? If so, there are some Conclusions in December 2020 that also refer to the appointment of a person by the European Council, so what exactly changes? Are we going to undo those Conclusions?
President of the Republic: No, those Conclusions are not reversed. The previous Conclusions of the European Union, over time, not just in 2020, talk about the readiness of the European Union to contribute to the resolution of the Cyprus problem by participating in the negotiations. We are not at the stage of negotiations at the moment. We are one stage ahead. We are at an impasse, where talks are not resuming because of the Turkish approach. So that is where our approach is focused through a political personality from a Member State of the European Union. Someone who understands both the Cyprus problem and the Euro-Turkish issues in order to be able to lead to the resumption of the talks. Your question is very reasonable because it was something we discussed, the procedural approach. There are precedents in the European Union both on the part of the Council and on the part of the Commission on how this decision can be implemented and institutionalized. So, I do not think that in this particular case there is a difficulty. We are at the preparatory stage. How, once we have come to a conclusion, it will be translated into a concrete decision, either by European Council conclusions. There is, for example, a precedent, to mention it. It's not related to the Cyprus issue, but on the issue of the Brexit negotiations, which was an appointment on the part of the European Union, there are other precedents, which were made by the Commission.
Question: On issues now with the proposal, following a resumption of negotiations, could you tell us more about how you see the interconnection of a negotiation process with Euro-Turkish, because we understand that that's where it's going and where Famagusta potentially fits in and where it is as it is urgent, if negotiations are resumed in the context of Euro-Turkish.
President: It is indeed a gradual process, which is also linked to the resumption of the Cyprus talks, but also progress in the negotiations, because no one wants negotiations for the sake of negotiations. So, progress in the negotiations is linked to the development of other positive developments, another positive approach, a positive agenda on other issues, to which the European Union can contribute and with the agreement of the Republic of Cyprus. The Famagusta issue is certainly in this context. I gave some examples because I was asked by my interlocutors if we can talk specifically, and indeed within the framework of the document we have prepared there are specific examples, which create this mutually beneficial situation.
Question: For this proposal to go forward, it will have to be accepted by the other members, such as Turkey and Britain as a guarantor power. What makes you think that the proposal will be accepted by the other members?
President of the Republic: Let me first mention that the decisions of the European Union are taken without the presence of states that are not members of the European Union. Our aim is not simply to secure a decision which cannot be implemented. On the contrary, we are aiming for it to be implemented, and that is the main thing, and that is what we will be trying to do in the period between now and the elections. This proposal creates what I said before, and this is the main objective, a mutually beneficial state of affairs with regard to issues that the Republic of Cyprus wants, for us you understand that the resolution of the Cyprus problem is the number one priority, but also issues that Turkey is interested in.
Question: Is there any part that you have provided from the non-paper?
President of the Republic: No, not to anyone. But I had it in the meetings, it was the document from which I used the talking points
Question: They didn't ask for it?
President of the Republic: They asked for it. I do not rule out that it will be given at a later stage. I want to see how specifically from the level of discussion, from the level of positive response, this proposal of ours proceeds and at some point, yes, it is very normal for some people to be given it so that they can specifically take it forward
Question: Will you seek to get this into the Conclusions eventually?
President of the Republic: Yes, it is an option to be included in European Council Conclusions. There are other kinds of options, on the procedural issue is how it will be made public if and when we come to this development. I want to make it clear, because I know the facts on the Cyprus problem very well, I consider the response we received in presenting our approach very important, but there is work to be done, which we will do. I told you earlier that especially with the two Presidents of the Commission and the Council and some Heads of State and Government, who can help us because they are interested, they have a special sensitivity for the Cyprus problem. For example, France is the only Member State of the European Union that is also a Permanent Member of the United Nations Security Council. Germany and the Netherlands are two Member States of the European Union that have special relations with Turkey, so we want to make use of all those who can help us. And the procedural issues will be discussed with them as well.
Question: In Nicosia you had told us, Mr. President, that if there is a positive response, you will proceed with the submission of names, did you do that?
President of the Republic: Within the framework of the discussion, there was an exchange of the characteristics of the profile of this person or this person who can assume this role. As I said earlier, we are talking about a political personality who comes from a member state of the European Union and who is not the first contact with the Cyprus problem or with Euro-Turkish issues.
Question: For the role of envoy or envoy, is it based on the example of the Brexit envoy?
President of the Republic: To avoid any misunderstanding, the example of Mr. Barnier's appointment for the negotiations with Great Britain on its exit from the European Union was in terms of the decision taken on the part of the European Council at that time. It is not about either the methodology in terms of how he or she would handle such a role. It was just an example in terms of what was decided on the part of the Council.
Question: Is it closer to something like Mr. O'Sullivan going for the sanctions override?
Mr. O'Sullivan is more of a technocratic approach. We are talking about a political figure, which you understand a political figure will be able to have the appropriate contacts either in Turkey or elsewhere.
Question: From the meeting with Mr. Macron, something broader in relation to the bilateral cooperation between Cyprus and France also emerged. It is a country with which Cyprus also has several issues in the defence sector, due to grace. Because you have an invitation to go to Paris.
President of the Republic: We discussed the issues of our bilateral cooperation. There is an intention on both sides to strengthen this cooperation, and indeed, very soon, through diplomatic channels, the date of our visit will be determined, as we also discussed, and you understand the reasons, the internal situation in France as we speak.
Question: What kind of expectations do you have to get support for the solution of the Cyprus problem?
President of the Republic: Let me tell you that I personally consider the accession of Cyprus to the European Union back in 2004 as the biggest success of Cyprus since its independence in 1960. And I'm a pro-European, I believe in the European project. I'm in favour of more integration. I know that the European Union has serious problems, has serious difficulties. Sometimes it is difficult even to reach a common decision among 27 member states. But it's important to understand -and I was glad it was one of the outcomes of my discussions- that they approach the Cyprus problem as a European problem. And in this regard, and also having in mind my experience due to my previous capacity as a diplomatic adviser of the president of the Republic, participating in the last negotiating process in 2015 to 2017, the presence of the European Union at the negotiating table was a decisive factor in order to reach consensus, in order to reach convergences, important convergences, for the benefit of both Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots. So, yes, I invest a lot in the support of the European Union.
Question: Let me change the subject a little bit about the economy, if there was a discussion. There is a debate about how economic governance in the euro will proceed next year when the escape clause is reintroduced, if there is anything concrete. And secondly, on the banking union, I read the statement, it says to continue efforts to complete it. The only element that remains is the deposit guarantee.
President of the Republic: The objective, through the discussion that took place in general in the presence of Ms Lagarde, was the need in all matters relating to the euro area to achieve further integration. It was an issue, which I have to say that all the people present, there were in the debate and the Heads of State and Government from countries not participating in the euro. Beyond that, specifically on the banking union, what was expressed as a goal was to have a conclusion before the end of 2023. It will be a positive development for all member states, taking into account the current situation and everything we see at international level with the banking sector.
Question: To stay on topic for the European ones. I understand that in the Council one of the issues on the agenda was the controversy that exists over the ban on internal combustion engines because of Germany's opposition
President: There was no substantive discussion on this issue and if you see it is not even included in the relevant Conclusions. As far as energy issues are concerned, yes, there was a discussion. There are, for example, some Member States which believe that nuclear energy should also be used because it is used in the mix, in their energy mix, some other Member States which disagree. You understand that on all the issues that we have discussed, even what I mentioned earlier in the context of the Eurozone, some Member States have expressed a concern in relation to non-performing loans, which with the current situation with inflation, with the increase in interest rates, have expressed a particular concern. Something that we as the European Union need to address as a whole. In this context I said earlier that the common thread of the discussion today was to have this further integration on the economic issues.
Question: If you will allow me to come back a little bit to your proposal. Since the timeframe until the Turkish elections is short, what does this discussion you had with the institutions envisage as a next step? What can be done in this period of time? What is the objective as a next step that is concrete and tangible?
President of the Republic: What we agreed with the two Presidents of the Commission and the Council, but also with some Heads of State and Government, is that in the next period, through our contacts, through our communication, how we will promote this proposal so that it can be manifested immediately after the elections. So all this time until the elections we will move in this particular direction, without public statements, without public positions.
Question: So the appointment of a personality in terms of time when to expect?
President of the Republic: If and when this goal is achieved, it will be after the elections in Turkey
Question: When you talk about the assistance of states related to Turkey, I imagine you mean contacts of these leaders with the Turkish government before the elections, for a sounding board?
President of the Republic: And that.
Question: So they will act informally as mediators behind the scenes?
President of the Republic: We all know that there are some member states of the European Union that over time have shown a particular sensitivity to Turkey. Over time they have excellent relations, better relations than some other member states have, and since they have a positive view of our approach, I think they should be used in this direction. There is still a long way to go. What we know, what I told you at the beginning is that there is this positive response. They all see the added value in relation to the implementation of our proposal and that is what we will do in the period up to the Turkish elections. Thank you.
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