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"The decision of the EU institutions to include a reference to the Cyprus problem in the Conclusions of the forthcoming European Council is a positive development that sends messages in all directions", President of the Republic Mr. In his remarks on the sidelines of the First Lady's event at the Presidential Palace on the occasion of Children's Day, President Christodoulides, when asked about the draft Conclusions of the forthcoming European Council, said: "The European Council is the first of three milestones that have been indirectly set in our efforts to resume talks. It is also the NATO Summit in Lithuania and then, where everything culminates, the UN General Assembly.
I would like to express my satisfaction at the fact that there is a reference to the Cyprus problem in the draft, because the Cyprus problem is not on the agenda of the European Council and precisely because of our own initiative and the mobility that we are trying to create through our own efforts, our partners have included a specific reference to the Cyprus problem in the draft, which is strengthened each time.
You understand that the Summit is on Thursday and Friday, so the processes are continuing. There are contacts at a technocratic level, and I will also have contacts at my level with leaders of other states before the Summit, so that a positive message about the readiness of the EU comes out.
Our aim is to break the deadlock and resume the talks. And what is happening in the EU, the response we are seeing from our partners, the decision of the institutions to include a reference to the Cyprus problem is, I think, a positive development that sends messages in all directions.
Beyond that, the NATO summit is the first summit that the Turkish President will attend after his re-election and, in the context of his presence there, there will be several meetings with European leaders, with leaders of EU Member States, who in these discussions will also refer to the Cyprus issue, the need to resume talks, the role that the EU can play in line with the desire expressed by the Turkish President for progress in Euro-Turkish relations.
So, with the European Council meeting next week, the results of our initiative will now formally begin to be reflected, which we hope will culminate in the resumption of talks."
In response to a journalist's comment that it is a positive step because for the first time there is a reference to the Cyprus problem, the President said: "It is not the first time that the Conclusions include a reference to the Cyprus problem, but it is not a matter for discussion. And the reference arises through our own initiatives, our own initiative was recognized by our EU partners who are with us in this effort. I believe that our effort is now officially starting to produce results. The goal - and that is what we are aiming for, nothing else - is how we break the deadlock and resume the talks."
Asked about this, the President said: "Certainly before the conclusion of the consultations it would not be wise for me to say publicly that I am satisfied with the draft. We are on the third draft at the moment and there will certainly be other drafts between now and the European Council and we are in consultation, both at the technocratic, at the diplomatic level and at my level - I will have a number of telephone contacts with European leaders."
Asked which European leaders he has already spoken to, the President said: "With those who can, through the relations they also have with Turkey, help us with the objective of resuming the talks."
On the discussions that are taking place at the Permanent Representatives level in Brussels, I want to say that all EU member states see the need to resume the talks and in all member states there is no one who has said that the talks should not resume or that the EU should not play a leading role. Everybody sees this added value of our proposal, of our initiative and where the discussions are focused is how we can best reach this result."
Asked if he was optimistic, the President said: "I am optimistic and I will do everything possible to reach that goal. Now, we are beginning to reflect in official documents this effort on the need to break the deadlock. It is the first milestone. We have the NATO Summit, which I think is very important, culminating in the UN General Assembly. There will also be a meeting between the Republic of Cyprus and the UN Secretary General, precisely, on the one hand, to convey our messages and our efforts, but also to see how we can work together to achieve this goal."
In response to a journalist's remark that the Turkish Cypriot leader said that actions are being taken to open the barrier at Mia Milia, and asked if there are discussions on this, the President said: "No, there is no question of discussing the opening of barricades in Mia Milia. There is no such request before us for consideration."
In response to a journalist's remark that migratory flows are continuing and asked if, in light of the incident off Pylos, the Government is concerned about its moves to avoid such an incident in Cyprus' territorial waters, the President of the Republic said: "Of course, and what happened recently is a tragic development and in our case always, although we have a huge problem with illegal immigration and indeed in the last few days we have seen increased flows, we always move within the framework to protect these people and from then on always within the framework of international legality to follow all the relevant procedures.
For the Republic of Cyprus it is one of the biggest problems we have to face today, that is why on the first day through specific Are we satisfied? No. This effort should be continuous, especially in the next two to three years to be able to deal with this issue."
In response to a reporter's remark that the Interior Minister recently had a meeting with his European counterparts on migration and there were some commitments and asked if these commitments can be translated into action, the President said: "On their own, no. I consider the agreement reached at the level of Home Affairs Ministers on the Migration Pact to be an important first step. It is a first step after so many years of negotiations."
I cannot but welcome the fact that EU member states have voluntarily accepted to send migrants to their countries, it is a first step, but without the cooperation of the EU we cannot achieve our goals."
Asked to comment on developments in Russia, the President said: "I am following the developments in Russia very closely, I have been informed and more specifically, in addition to what sees the light of day, and I am sure seeing all this that it will also be an issue that will be on the agenda of the European Council meeting next Thursday."
Asked what to expect from the new Government of Greece in relation to the Cyprus problem, the President said: "We are waiting for the result of the elections. I am sure that the new Greek Prime Minister will position himself. I wish him a good vote, express the hope that there will be a stable government in Greece, that is the main thing, and be sure that the first contact after the elections will be between Greece and the Republic of Cyprus."
(PM/AF)
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