[PIO] Statements by the Government Spokesman after the meeting of the President of the Republic with the Special Representative of the

There is no possibility of changing the agreed basis for a solution to the Cyprus problem, Government Spokesman Konstantinos Letibiotis said today.

In his statements to journalists after the meeting of President Nicos Christodoulides with the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General in Cyprus Colin Steward at the Presidential Palace, Mr. Letybiotis said: "The meeting took place before Mr. Steward left for UN Headquarters, where he will submit his report to the UN Secretary General.

From our side, what we have reiterated once again is that we expect the report to objectively reflect the facts as they are today in the Republic of Cyprus, facts as they have been shaped by the efforts we have been making over the last 16 months to resume negotiations, but also respecting at all times the terms of reference of the peacekeeping force in Cyprus.

We will await Mr. Steward's report and will make a public statement when it is made public."

Asked whether Ms. Holguín's report will be the subject of a Security Council briefing, the Spokesman said: "That is up to the UN Secretary-General. Ms. Holguín is a personal envoy of the Secretary-General, to whom she will deliver the report she is preparing, and the Secretary-General may choose to brief the Security Council on the basis of that report."

In response to a reporter's remark that Mr. Steward earlier in his statements to the media spoke of the need to demilitarize the buffer zone and asked if he estimated that his report would document Turkish violations in Pyla, Deneia, Strovilia and Agios Dometios, the Spokesman said: "What we expect is that the report will objectively reflect the facts."

We are known to fully respect the terms of reference of the peacekeeping force in Cyprus and we believe that everyone should respect those terms of reference. And we have demonstrated this through our actions, not only this time but over time."

Asked how likely a joint meeting between the President of the Republic and the occupying leader and Ms. Holguín is under these circumstances, the Spokesman said: "We will repeat what we have been saying for months, that we have already responded positively to this invitation and we would expect the same positive response from Mr. Tatar.

Besides, from the first moment President Christodoulides took office, this was the initiative that he had pointed out many times and we believe that it would be and is the first self-evident step that could be taken."

In response to a remark by journalists that from London Mr. Tatar is asking for direct flights and direct trade and asked if this is feasible, the Spokesman said: "You are well aware of both international law and international treaties. It is a fact, the Republic of Cyprus is the only recognized state, we know the claims, the public statements of Mr. Tatar."

What we will repeat once again in the most emphatic way is that we should all demonstrate the same sincere will to resume negotiations. We invite once again Turkey, Mr. Tatar, to the negotiating table, from the point where they have been interrupted, so that through the agreed framework there can be a final solution to the Cyprus problem."

Asked to refer to the intentions of the Republic of Cyprus in relation to the issue of the 28 irregular migrants in the buffer zone for whom the UN is asking the Republic of Cyprus to take over, the Spokesman said: "The intention of the Republic of Cyprus has been repeatedly expressed by the President of the Republic and in the most official way, through the written statements we have issued.

We cannot and will not allow a new passage through the buffer zone to be created. What we should note once again is that we see no mention as to the root cause of this problem, the reason why the 28 are there. The irregular migrants themselves have testified in statements to the media that they passed through safe countries, in particular Turkey, before finding themselves in the occupied territories and crossing into the buffer zone. But we do not see any reference to these international conventions, to international regulations that state that they should be returned to the safe country through which they have passed."

Asked to comment on reports that Ms. Holguín is preparing a proposal that "touches" on the basis of a solution, and that this is why the President of the Republic has called a meeting of the National Council, the Spokesman said: "There was criticism when the President of the Republic did not immediately convene the National Council. We see criticism when the President of the Republic immediately convenes a National Council.

The National Council has been convened precisely in order to have the necessary briefing of the political leadership and the necessary exchange of views on the last meeting that the President of the Republic had with Ms. Holguín.

Let me recall that the terms of reference of Ms. Holguín derive from the UN Secretary General himself. The terms of reference of the UN Secretary-General derive from the UN Security Council.

There is no provision, no possibility of changing the agreed framework. It is to this agreed framework that our side has remained committed over time, and this is something to be noted. It is in this agreed framework that we believe that any concerns that our Turkish Cypriot compatriots and our Greek Cypriot compatriots have can be addressed, namely, a bizonal bicommunal federation with political equality."

(PM/EP/NYAN)
Contents of this article including associated images are belongs to PIO
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or PIO
Source