For us, the Cyprus problem is neither a communication game nor a blame game, President of the Republic Nicos Christodoulides said today.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of his visit to the ELDYK camp in Athalassa, on the occasion of the holidays, and asked to comment on the recent announcement by the occupation regime as a reaction to the President's previous statements, President Christodoulides said that "this is why I have said that for us it is neither a communication game nor a blame game. We are not satisfied that the international community or any third party considers that the resumption of talks cannot be achieved because of the Turkish approach to a two-state solution.
We are interested in the substance and the substance is how to break the deadlock. And it is for this reason that we have taken a specific initiative, which we are continuing after the European Council in contacts that exist, mainly at the technocratic level, from my colleagues and I hope that there will be such data that will allow us to have concrete results, especially immediately after the elections in Turkey."
Asked whether he believes that the good climate in Greek-Turkish relations will be maintained, the President of the Republic said that "we will be here to judge. What is my wish and expectation? Is that this new climate that has been created especially after the earthquakes in Turkey, the new climate in Greek-Turkish relations, will last after the elections and if it lasts it will also help our efforts. Besides, I do not want to speak on behalf of the Greek Government, but it is clear from both the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister of Greece that a complete normalization of Greek-Turkish relations cannot be achieved without the resolution of the Cyprus problem.
We wish and hope that this new climate will continue after the elections in Turkey and that it will be translated into concrete actions with concrete results that also concern the Cyprus problem."
Asked about the issue that arose with the servers, the President of the Republic said that "what I have been informed about is that the servers were placed in this particular spot in 2001 by the Ministry of Finance and they were placed there because in 2003 the Ministry of Finance was part of the Ministry of Finance. It was transferred to the Deputy Ministry of Research after the establishment of that Deputy Ministry, but in November 2022 a recommendation has been passed by the Council of Ministers for a memorandum of understanding with ATHK that would apply to these data centres in general. What I have asked, and I expect an update by 5pm, because there is an ongoing discussion between the relevant Deputy Ministry and ATHK, is when the data will be transferred there. I have asked as by 5pm to know when this will be completed so that this data is secured and the incident that we have experienced does not happen again."
Asked if it is feasible to transfer it to ATIC, the President said that "so far, based on the information that I have, it does not appear that it is something that cannot be done."
Asked if it is feasible to transfer it to ATIC, the President said that "so far, based on the information that I have, it does not appear that it is something that cannot be done. I know that ATIC has not developed its own data centre, but there is a way, at least at this stage to protect the servers, to have an understanding and cooperation with ATIC."
Asked about the issue of accountability in relation to the incident, the President said that "I have asked the responsible Deputy Minister for this. That is why I asked when they were placed and they told me 2003. I want to see whose decision it was to follow up on the implementation of any decision or agreement that was made and I expect to be informed specifically."
Asked if he had been informed that a decision to transfer the servers was pending, the President said "no, I was not informed."
Asked if there was any accountability, the President said: "We will see. The most important thing is to avoid such developments. We are not here as an administration nor the previous administrations nor the next administrations to go after who is responsible. We are the present administration, the responsibility is ours. I am not going to hide. We may be a one-month administration, but the responsibility is ours. And our responsibility to the Cypriot people whether it's on this issue or on anything is ours. I am not going to hide behind decisions either, that others are to blame and so on. This is our obligation towards the Cypriot people as well."
Asked if there is anything more concrete in relation to his proposal for more active EU involvement in the Cyprus problem, the President said that "there are developments at the technocratic level, my colleagues are in contact with colleagues of foreign leaders of EU member states or people who are heads of EU institutions. There is a preparatory work that needs to be done. I said, when I came back from Brussels, that this is the time for diplomacy and that is what is happening right now. I hope that there will be a result, which will be translated into concrete actions, concrete developments immediately after the Turkish elections."
Asked if there is a possibility of a complaint from our side against Turkey for not implementing the Customs Union Agreement, the President said: "Let me remind you that Turkey, precisely because it is not implementing the Customs Union Agreement with the Republic of Cyprus, has led to a reaction from the EU. It is Turkey's obligation to implement the Customs Union with all EU Member States including the Republic of Cyprus. It is precisely because of Turkey's behaviour towards the Republic of Cyprus, which is an EU member state, that there have been specific reactions, either freezing funds or not being able to move forward on issues that are in the broader context of Euro-Turkish issues."
Asked about Turkey's proposal to bring the Greek-Turkish issues before the Hague tribunal and how this would affect the Cyprus problem, the President of the Republic said that "the Greek government should take a position on the Turkish government's proposal. We are not involved in this issue. But if there is a positive development in Greek-Turkish relations, it is something that we think will be important, it will be a positive development in our effort to resolve the Cyprus problem. Hopefully there will be such developments, we will see after the Turkish elections what will be the approach of the new Turkish government, if Erdogan wins, if the opposition wins and so on, and we will be here to comment on real facts."
Asked to comment on the Turkish side's moves in the Cetincaya stadium and in the enclosed area of Famagusta with an event together with the United Nations (UN), the President said that "these are issues that the Foreign Ministry is handling with the UN. There are indeed moves on the part of the occupation army, particularly in the Tsetinkaia stadium, more generally on the issue of the buffer zone, a challenge that is being attempted through such actions, but also the relevant 1964 resolution after the withdrawal of the Turkish Cypriots and the status of the peacekeeping force's stay in Cyprus, such as who is the host country, who gives consent and others. It is something we are discussing with the UN."
To a reporter's remark that the Turkish side is finding fertile ground with Mr. Colin Stewart's attitude, the President said that "UN officials whether in Cyprus or in New York or elsewhere are bound by the resolutions and decisions of the organization they work for. The less we say in public the better. What I am interested in is that through our interventions, through the actions we take, there are results. Speaking publicly criticizing or not criticizing anyone doesn't get results. It is an approach that I insist on and we will follow to the end. We will not approach either the Cyprus problem or such issues that exist through a communicative approach. What we seek is results. Of course, if there are no results, there will be public criticism, but what matters above all, in order to be serious, is to see the substance, to confront all those things that some people are trying to impose through moves."
He added that "we are in constant contact with the UN, it is not easy, there are many things that we are not satisfied with, with the actions of the occupation regime, that is why there is this constant contact with the UN as well.
And the effort - to go to the big picture which is the solution of the Cyprus problem, because these will only be resolved if the Cyprus problem is resolved - for the reunification of our homeland we believe is through the involvement of other actors of the international system, such as the EU, which has incentives to offer, always supportive within the framework of the UN. And there can be positive results."
Asked about the Velsiter issue, the President said that "there will be a meeting to address any problems that exist."
Asked about the issue of dealing with cyber-attacks, the President said that "we have already given instructions, there was a meeting that was not made public. Instructions were also given by myself during the previous Cabinet to upgrade all systems. It is something we are dealing with, you see what is happening internationally.
In the first instance it is the protection of these systems, particularly those used by the Civil Service. I am referring to those used by the Essential Services.
Beyond that it is upgrading the system through 13 specific actions that we approved in Cabinet. This is the second phase.
The first phase is the need to make known the attempt by some people to interfere in the security issues of the state."
Finally, asked whether AKEL Secretary General Stefanos Stefanou has requested a meeting with the President of the Republic to discuss energy issues, President Christodoulides said that "I did receive a letter from Mr. Stefanou, who is asking me for a meeting on energy issues and of course it will be arranged."
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