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- Ελληνικά
It is a positive development that there will be a meeting between the United Nations Secretary-General (UNSG) and the Turkish Cypriot leader, President Nicos Christodoulides said today, noting that "we want the Secretary-General to be actively involved in the effort to resume the talks".
In his remarks to journalists coming to the Central Bank Conference, asked to comment on the upcoming meeting of the UN Secretary General with the Turkish Cypriot leader and asked if this is in line with the thoughts that the UN Secretary General had mentioned to him, the President of the Republic said: "I would like to mention that when I met with the UN Secretary General, he told me that as soon as our meeting was made public, the Turkish Cypriot leader immediately asked to go to Brussels [TO] have a meeting with the Secretary General and I think it is within this framework that the meeting will take place."
I consider this fact important. It is a positive development that there will be a meeting. We want the SG to be actively involved in trying to resume the talks and I think this meeting lends itself to the direction that I mentioned to you."
In response to a reporter's remark that at the meeting Mr. Tatar will nevertheless raise his own issues, the President said: "I cannot speak for Mr Tatar. We see the statements every day, but that does not mean that we are stopping this effort. I also said today in a meeting I had with students from Greece that the passage of time creates new fait accompli, more difficulties in achieving the goal, and we will do everything possible to resume the talks for the resolution of the Cyprus problem."
Asked if this was part of the developments he had indicated we would have in April, the President said: "No, it has nothing to do with it. This is a statement on which we all agree that the passage of time creates new fait accompli. Beyond that, I discussed some specific ideas with the SG. He shared with me some of the ideas he has to move the process forward, I responded positively - I can say that - and hopefully there will be a positive response from the Turkish side as well."
In response to a journalist's remark that the term of the Governor of the Central Bank is coming to an end and asked if he has taken any decisions in this regard, the President said: "We are at a conference organised by the Central Bank on a very important issue, financial literacy and how to unite actions so as to address the problem. There is an excellent work going on at the Central Bank - the head of the Central Bank is Mr. Herodotus. When his term of office is completed, announcements will be made."
Asked about the visit of the President of the European Parliament Ms Roberta Metsola to Cyprus, the President of the Republic said: "Ms Metsola is coming, we will have a meeting on April 1 in the evening and then a working dinner.
The following day, in Larnaca, she has asked me to see the whole operation of the Republic of Cyprus and we will make statements there.
As part of her presence here, an event will be organised with young people, as she does in all member states, to encourage them to participate in the electoral process for the election of members of the European Parliament. This is something we are also trying to do through the campaigns and actions we are carrying out. I think it is important, and it will also send a message to Brussels, that our compatriots participate as much as possible in the elections."
Asked about Turkish plans for Gaza and whether they will affect the "Amalthea" project, the President said: "They would like the Turks to create problems in our effort. I can tell you that behind the scenes they attempted to thwart our effort."
I want to remind you of something, and this is why our effort stands out. It is after 17 years that the naval blockade of Gaza is lifted for ships leaving the port of Larnaca. So, it is clear that any other effort, especially at this stage, is intended, because they know it cannot be done, to create more general problems. This is standard Turkish behaviour. Those who are talking to Turkey, those who are related to Turkey are also taking action on this particular event."
Asked when the next ship will leave for Gaza, President Christodoulides said: "It is in the final stage, the weather conditions are affecting, you understand. The important thing I keep this week was the meeting I had with the US military officials. They showed me plans and photos of their effort to create the temporary port. The deadline is May 1, but they assured me, seeing the progress of the work, that possibly around April 15 it will be completed and it is something that will allow easier access to Gaza and thus allow more aid to be sent."
Asked about AKEL's proposal to tax banks' excess profits, the President said: "You could ask the Governor of the Central Bank about this issue, since we are at a Central Bank conference."
We are in an election campaign. I know very well that such statements sound very good to people's ears. At the same time, however, we must also respect the society that is listening to us.
These nice, inexpensive statements that I have been hearing in recent days, at the end of the day, the one they underestimate is the Cypriot people themselves. You do not address the problems with such groundless proposals.
I also hear many suggestions, as if for so many years the Governments, headed by party leaders or former party leaders, did not exist and did not take these decisions.
We are in an election campaign. I know very well the party, the political scene, but at the same time we have to respect first and foremost the Cypriot people. That is why we are here and it is for this reason that on the specific issue of accuracy - which is a fact I do not underestimate in any way - that we have taken specific measures. Let me recall two packages of measures, many social benefits - but it is only through a holistic approach, subsidy policy, wage increases, a holistic approach to the issue of energy, which is where the problems begin, [THAT THE ISSUE WILL BE ADDRESSED]. So I repeat, I give a hand of cooperation to everyone, whoever has proposals, suggestions that can be implemented, I am ready to discuss them, always within the framework of fiscal discipline. This country has suffered from populist approaches, populist policies, I don't even want to think that what happened in 2012 will ever be repeated in our country."
(PM/AF/NZ)
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