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"I am in contact with Ms Holguin and myself personally, but also with some European Union (EU) and non-EU member states, such as Permanent Members of the United Nations (UN) Security Council, to see how to create prospects for the resumption of the talks," the President of the Republic said today. Nikos Christodoulides.
In his remarks to journalists, while attending an event to launch a wheelchair basketball tournament, the President of the Republic, asked about the issue of the terminal at Vasilikos, said: "The project has three phases. There is the ship, there is the onshore, there is the terminal where there is some progress. Some are progressing and some are not progressing as we would like.
We are here to deal with any problems. I'm not going to enter into a public dialogue with the company, and I have to say I'm surprised at this need for public input from the company. The state is not being blackmailed, the state is faithful to its obligations. We are always responsive and we are here to address this issue.
I have myself requested a meeting with the Ambassador of China on Monday and the only topic of discussion is this one. We have a plan that needs to be implemented, it depends to a large extent - I am referring to the issue of energy in general, the objective of reducing the price of electricity - and it is also related to the progress in Vasilikos and the project that this company has undertaken with specific commitments, time-bound and many others.
With absolute good faith, will we will manage the problems that exist and I hope that with good faith and will on the other side, solutions will be found."
Asked if there is a plan B, the President said: "Of course there is a plan B, we are obliged to think about plan B, but I don't want us to reach that point. I tell you clearly that the Government's intention is to proceed with everything that is foreseen under the contract."
Asked about the Amalthea project, the President said that "it is proceeding normally, there is a keen interest, many services of the state are in coordination, because on the one hand we have to be able to accommodate more humanitarian aid in Cyprus and at the same time to use the money sent to Cyprus to buy humanitarian aid, there has to be coordination. It is an issue that we discussed in the Council of Ministers the day before yesterday, and there is also the dimension of the role of our country, which I think sends very positive signals for the role of the Republic of Cyprus in the region."
Asked if Ms. Holguin's effort has reached a dead end, President Christodoulides replied. There are problems, there are challenges, we were aware of them, many of them we expected, but Mrs Holguin is continuing the effort. I am in contact with her personally, but also with some EU and non-EU Member States, from the Permanent Members of the UN Security Council, to see how the prospects for resuming the talks can be created. We know very well what we want, what we are seeking and I hope that it will be possible to start a discussion.
When you feel secure in your positions and your arguments, you have nothing to fear" to start a dialogue, to have a meeting to see if the facts are there for the resumption of talks.
Asked if the Greek Prime Minister and the Turkish President will meet again, the President said they will have opportunities to meet, such as at the NATO Summit, two European Councils dedicated to the new heads of the institutions, the Ukraine Summit where the American President will participate, which will take place on June 16 in Switzerland and he will probably be there, maybe Mr. Erdoğan and other leaders will be there. There are many opportunities that can be seized for contacts. But we are not waiting for those opportunities to take the actions we need to take. Every day we are working in the direction I mentioned."
Asked whether he believes there is a difference of opinion between Ankara and Tatar, the President replied, "None at all."
To another question he said: "Certainly there are many reactions from Turkish Cypriots to both Mr. Tatar's attitude and that of Turkey."
Asked he said: "It is diplomacy that can pave the way for a dialogue to begin. Only through diplomacy. This is the option we have before us and we use it to the fullest extent."
To a journalist's remark that in diplomacy what is true is that in order to win you have to give, and if this is true in our case, the President said: "What is true is that in diplomacy there are no deadlocks."
Referring to the event concerning the tournament and asked what actions the State could take in order to raise public awareness, the President said: "Sport unites. This is the first message that today's game sends. And what we want through the Cyprus Basketball Federation and the special department that exists for these basketball games is to further strengthen and encourage all the teams that participate in the A' and B' league to create such teams. That is the main objective, and events like today's are important, they send out messages. That is why I am here, to show the importance that we as a State attach to them."
Asked about the Eurobasket that Cyprus will host next year, the President said: "The State is a supporter, we discussed this in the Council of Ministers at the last meeting with the Minister of Transport. The Ministry of Transport has taken a leading role in getting the work done at Spyros Kyprianou. It is a European event and we are here to do everything possible in cooperation with the Federation to make it a successful event."
Asked to comment on statements by the President of the Cyprus Football Federation on the golden mean for the movement of fans, the President of the Republic said: "No golden mean has been found. No golden mean has been found. There is no golden solution to the problem. Given this fact, we are here to take any measures. As a State we have specific positions and approaches, there is also disagreement with the Cyprus Football Federation on some issues, as well as with some Clubs. Of course we do not want this measure of not moving fans to continue, but the final decisions will be made on the basis of one single fact. This is the golden mean, to hold football matches safely."
Asked about tonight's Cup final, President Christodoulides said: "As President of the Republic, I hope that the best man wins. As a Paphos fan, of course I want Paphos to win."
(PM/NZ/EP)
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