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"In recent years, the two leaders have been meeting with the UN Secretary General and this is something I will seek," President of the Republic Nicos Christodoulides said today.
In his statements to journalists, coming to the General Assembly of the Union of Communities, at the Municipal Theatre of Ipsona, the President of the Republic, asked what he keeps from the conversation he had with the UN Secretary General, said that "I keep the intention of the Secretary General to work towards the resumption of the talks."
In this context, there will be visits to Cyprus. This is one level at which we are working. The other level is that of the EU. There is a European Council scheduled for the end of June, there is the NATO summit - it will be the first one that Mr Erdogan will attend after his re-election - and we are working both at the diplomatic level, but mainly at the technocratic level, to see how the prospects for resuming the talks from where they left off in Crans-Montana can be created.
We know very well the facts, we know very well the difficulties. It is very important from our side to have the initiative on the one hand and on the other hand to have a result.
The resumption of talks and the resolution of the Cyprus problem is a top priority of our government and we will do everything possible to achieve this goal."
Asked what he expects from the upcoming European Council, President Christodoulides said that "there are several milestones that are important. Certainly, both in the margins and during the official part of the European Council I will refer to this preparedness, in addition to the other issues that will be on the agenda. At the same time, I am glad that the leaders of EU member states see the added value, embrace our approach and within this framework are working towards its implementation."
Asked about the issue of appointing an envoy of the UN Secretary General, the President of the Republic said that "you know very well that this effort runs up against the refusal of the Turkish side. But we are not resting on the denial of the Turkish side, nor do I want nor will I do so to engage in a blame game. That would be the easiest thing for me to do. He added that the issue of the appointment of an envoy "was one of the issues we discussed with the Secretary General, I don't want to speak for the Secretary General, it is not right for me to speak for the Secretary General. What I hold is that he is working towards the resumption of the talks."
Asked about the issue of the appointment of an EU envoy, the President said that "there are EU Conclusions that explicitly record that with the resumption of the talks the EU is ready to contribute, as it was during the last negotiating process."
But we are not yet at the talks. At the moment the key issue is to break the deadlock and we believe that a more active, more proactive involvement of the EU can create momentum in this direction. You have heard Erdogan's public statements about what he expects, what he expects from Euro-Turkish relations, you have heard statements by other European officials and we are trying to make use of all this - all this started on our own initiative, in order to create the conditions for the resumption of the talks."
Asked to comment on statements by Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar, the President of the Republic said that "I listen to Mr. Tatar every day. I am not going to get involved in a blame game."
I know what Mr Tatar says, I know his positions very well. For me, the easiest thing to do is to shield myself behind the unacceptable statements that are made and do nothing.
On the contrary, because we understand the need to resolve the Cyprus problem - there is no other option, the current situation cannot be the solution to the Cyprus problem - we are doing everything possible and we will not stop until we achieve our goal."
On the contrary, because we understand the need to resolve the Cyprus problem - there is no other option, the current situation cannot be the solution to the Cyprus problem - we are doing everything possible and we will not stop until we achieve our goal.
Asked whether the UN General Assembly next September is a milestone, the President of the Republic said that "the General Assembly is always a milestone. You know that in recent years there has been a meeting of the two leaders with the SG. It is something that I will seek, as in Cyprus I will continue to seek a meeting with Mr. Tatar."
(RM/IS)
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