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We hope that Mr Tatar will change his mind and accept the UN Secretary-General's (UNSG) proposal for a joint meeting, Government Spokesman Konstantinos Letibiotis said today.
The Government Spokesman, during his remarks at the Presidential Palace, was asked regarding an announcement by the Israeli Ministry of Transport, and replied, "This announcement by Israeli Transport Minister Ms. Miri Regev refers to the utilization of ships by the Israeli Ministry [OF TRANSPORT] to assist Israeli nationals abroad to return to Israel.
In any case, this concerns chartering by the State of Israel and not by the Republic of Cyprus, nor can it be associated with the ESTIA project, which concerns evacuation of civilians from dangerous zones.
We note that in these critical moments, the positions of the Republic of Cyprus are expressed by the Republic of Cyprus itself in the most official manner."
In response to another question, the Spokesman said: "The statements of the Israeli Minister of Transport do not relate to the transfer of Israeli nationals to Cyprus. They concern the transfer of Israeli nationals to Israel on Israel's own ships. I understand they are not in consultation with the Republic of Cyprus. We are currently, we are still focused, on preparing for any activation of the ESIA Plan," he added: "We have received requests, if and when the need arises, to activate the ESIA Plan. We are monitoring the situation. It is the hope and wish of all of us that there will be no further escalation of the crisis in the region."
Asked about the trilateral meeting in New York, the Spokesman said: "As the President of the Republic himself has mentioned during his speech at the anti-communist event of the Famagusta Municipality, the President of the Republic has been approached for a specific date, August 13. I should note here that three dates, 11, 12 and 13 August, had been proposed to the President of the Republic. On 12 August, which was the original date, the UN Secretary-General was not available and therefore 13 August was chosen.
Yesterday, unfortunately, we saw the statements of the Turkish Cypriot leader, who once again rejected the possibility of a joint meeting with the President of the Republic in the presence of the UN Secretary-General. We hope that Mr Tatar will change his mind and accept this joint meeting. A joint meeting, which we have noted from the very first moment of taking office, the great importance and the high value it will have in the efforts to resume negotiations.
We believe that it is only through dialogue that the concerns of both our Turkish Cypriot compatriots and our Greek Cypriot compatriots can be addressed within the agreed framework. But, these concerns, these positions, which Mr. Tatar puts forward, unfortunately [EXIST] to this day, and he refuses even a joint meeting in the presence of the Secretary General.
We sincerely hope that he will reconsider this view and eventually accept it. We are at the disposal of the UN Secretary General. It is for this reason that the President of the Republic responded positively from the very first moment to this invitation. We are at the disposal of the UN Secretary General, if this opportunity arises, of course, to respond positively again."
In response to a reporter's remark that there had been an approach to both leaders, but not the invitation, the Spokesman said: "It is a sounding board, the President of the Republic was very specific about a sounding board on a specific date, August 13."
Asked to comment on today's announcement by Mr. Averof Neophytou in relation to the Bank of Cyprus employees' provident fund, the Spokesman said: "Let me remind Mr Neophytou that he led a ruling party for ten years and for ten whole years he did not take the necessary actions in the proper manner through the executive. He did not do so. I remind you that despite all the assurances that we saw in January 2018, on the eve of the presidential elections then, the issue was not resolved and it was not resolved even through the avenue that it should have been through the executive. We would expect Mr. Neophytou, as an experienced MP, as a former Minister, to know that the current proposed law conflicts with constitutional provisions, both in relation to the increase in public expenditure and in relation to the separation of powers. In particular, the law in question, which was passed by the House of Representatives, entails an increase in public expenditure. It is Article 80 of the Constitution that does not allow a bill proposed by a Member of Parliament that entails an increase in expenditure in relation to the plan for increased replacement of the loss of pension rights of members of the Provident Fund, whose deposits have been impaired, provided for in the budget.
This is the first constitutional provision with which Mr. Neophytou's proposed law conflicts.
The second is that the law in question obliges the implementation of certain types of expenditure, the responsibility for which is delegated to the executive. Therefore, the principle governed by the Constitution regarding the separation of powers is being circumvented, since the legislative power through the adoption of the law in question interferes with the work of the executive power.
And we would expect Mr Neophytou to be aware of this. I should note as to the substance of the discussion that a meeting of the President of the Republic with the members of the Committee for the Claiming of Bank Employees' Pension Funds has already been set for the end of August. The exact date will be announced. And if we really respect those of our fellow citizens who have been affected by 2013, I think that then we should at least refrain from indulging in populism and taking actions that we know will not succeed. This is the least we owe to the Cypriot society.
I should note that it is this Government, the present Government that activated the Solidarity Fund, an issue that was chronic, through the operation of the electronic platform of the Solidarity Fund, received the applications, which are being examined at the moment, in order to be able to proceed with the payment of the amounts to the beneficiaries. And it is this Government that has doubled the contribution to the Solidarity Fund from 25 million to 50 million per annum."
Asked if the issue of the humanitarian aid corridor is affected by developments in the region, the Spokesperson said: "When there is escalation and further escalation in the region, the issue of security is a fundamental issue in the implementation of the humanitarian corridor. Of course, because the humanitarian needs in Gaza, as I am sure you understand, have not disappeared, we will continue as long as security conditions allow. But security is a key issue, which is taken very seriously."
(PM/AS/MS)
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