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- Ελληνικά
The President of the Republic Mr.Nicos Christodoulides chaired a meeting of the National Council this afternoon. Constantinos Letibiotis told reporters that the President of the Republic convened the National Council after his trip to New York for the UN General Assembly and the contacts he had there.
According to Letybiotis, "the President of the Republic informed the members of the National Council about the contacts he made, about the results of these contacts, and the necessary coordination for the next steps in the next period took place.
The objectives of our side from the very beginning of our assumption of office were, on the one hand, after a period of prolonged stalemate, to create the conditions for the resumption of negotiations and to make clear once again our commitment to the agreed framework, on the basis of a bizonal bicommunal federation with political equality, as defined by the relevant UN resolutions, but also to reiterate the constructive attitude which we have demonstrated from the very first moment of taking office.
The President of the Republic informed the members of the National Council about his meeting with the Secretary General (SG) of the United Nations (UN) to whom he reiterated our readiness to hold a joint meeting with Mr. Tatar in the presence of the UN Secretary General, but also the added value that we consider the appointment of an envoy on the part of the UN Secretary General to explore the prospects of resuming negotiations would have."
Asked, the Spokesman said: "The necessary exchange of views on the next steps has taken place. As is known, the European Council will also be held in December, at which the Euro-Turkish issues will be discussed, and as we know this is not only our position, but our European partners have also mentioned it, any issues that Turkey puts high on its priorities are directly related and linked together with the resumption of negotiations, but also the course of these talks."
Asked about the appointment of an envoy of the UN Secretary General, the Spokesman said: "We have reiterated to the Secretary-General that the appointment of an envoy will have a high added value. It is a position that not only we, but all members of the Security Council have said unanimously in their recent statement. We expect that this will be possible and that an envoy will be appointed as soon as possible so that he can explore this prospect of resuming negotiations."
Asked whether the Government is making representations in relation to what Mr. Erdogan has said about Azerbaijan's recognition of the pseudo-state, the Spokesman said: "In particular, relations with Azerbaijan are well known. All necessary steps are being taken on the part of the Republic of Cyprus, this to the extent that our diplomacy allows us to avoid it."
Asked if our expectations have been justified by the President's contacts in New York, the Spokesman said: "Expectations will never be lowered, especially on the highest issue, our national issue. We have gone to New York with the aim of presenting our own proposals once again, to present our own constructive stance."
The President, from the floor of the General Assembly, has sent very clear messages both to Mr. Erdogan and to the international community. The international community has received messages that it is our side that has taken the initiative, it is our side, the Republic of Cyprus, that has put forward very specific, constructive proposals, it is the Republic of Cyprus, it is we who remain committed to the agreed basis.
We will continue to make efforts to resume the talks, we will not allow under any circumstances to move even the slightest bit away from what the Security Council resolutions provide for.
What we can say at this point is that the international community recognizes our constructive attitude."
Asked whether the Government considers the visit to New York a success given the objectives that were set, the Spokesman said: "The objectives that were set were, on the one hand, to make clear once again our commitment to the agreed basis for talks. At the same time to communicate to the SG the added value of appointing an envoy. What I can tell you, what is important is that we will use all the diplomatic tools at our disposal, as we have been doing since we took office, including our status as an EU Member State, precisely to create the conditions for a mutually beneficial state of affairs, for the resumption of negotiations with a view to a final settlement, a just and peaceful resolution of the Cyprus problem.
Asked when the measures for Turkish Cypriots will be announced, the Spokesman said: "The President of the Republic, when he thinks the time is right, will announce these measures. Besides, he has said that these measures are ready and will be announced."
Asked if the President of the Republic expects something from the Turkish Cypriot side to announce the measures, the Spokesman said: "The President of the Republic will judge at the appropriate time and at that appropriate time the measures will be announced."
(PM/EP)
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