-
.
- Русский
The meetings that the President of the Republic had today, at the Presidential Palace, with the Missing Persons' Relatives' Organisations, the Secretary General of AKEL and the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General in Cyprus, as well as the elections in Turkey and the Cyprus problem, were referred to today by the Government Spokesman Mr. In his statements to journalists at the Presidential Palace, Mr. Letybiotis referred to the meeting of the President of the Republic Mr. Mr. Nicos Christodoulides' meeting with the UN Secretary General's Special Representative to Cyprus Mr. Colin Steward earlier today, he said that Mr. Steward briefed the President on the meetings he held in Brussels and the President of the Republic informed him about the meeting he recently had with the French President and the contacts he will have in Berlin.
He added that "what we welcome with satisfaction is that the United Nations (UN) values and assesses the EU as an important partner in the effort to resolve the Cyprus problem. This is the basis of the President's proposal for more active participation, more substantial involvement of the EU in the effort to break the deadlock.
The President of the Republic is continuing his diplomatic efforts with the leaders of member states so that this proposal can be implemented as soon as possible, in view of the elections in Turkey and Greece, so that we can make use of this valuable time, so that the negotiations can be restarted as soon as possible."
The President of the Republic is continuing his diplomatic efforts with the leaders of member states, so that this proposal can be implemented as soon as possible, in view of the elections in Turkey and Greece, so that we can make use of this valuable time, so that the negotiations can be restarted as soon as possible.
The Spokesman noted that during the meeting the President of the Republic told Mr. Steward that "our side is ready, we are already at the negotiating table and we invite both our Turkish Cypriot compatriots and Turkey to come back to the negotiating table for a viable solution to the Cyprus problem on the basis of a bizonal bicommunal federation".
Asked if the developments in the enclosed city of Famagusta were raised during the meeting, the Spokesman said that "the President's concern was conveyed that there should not be any action on the part of Turkey that would undermine the positive climate that President Christodoulides has been trying to create since the day he took office and which has been cultivated recently, and it is something that the UN is closely monitoring."
Asked if there were any ideas during the meeting to initiate contact between the two sides, Mr. Letibiotis said that "there has been an exchange of views, the President reiterated his willingness to meet at a social level with Mr. Tatar and Mr. Steward had some views. What was conveyed from the President's side is that he is willing to have this meeting and it is his intention to foster this positive climate."
Asked if there are any indications that there will be a development after the elections in Turkey, the Spokesman said that "there are elections that give some visible timelines. From our side, we have conveyed our full readiness to resume negotiations."
He added that "the last decades have taught us that in general Turkey's attitude, particularly on the Cyprus issue, does not differ with respect to its leadership. What we want to do until the conclusion of the elections in Turkey is to create the conditions - and this is where the President's proposal comes in - to show Turkey and our Turkish Cypriot compatriots that the resolution of the Cyprus problem is in the interest of all of us. And it is here that more active EU involvement can and must be catalytic. So, our efforts until the elections in Turkey are completed are directed and oriented precisely towards the implementation of the President's proposal, which we and those who have had the opportunity to develop this proposal believe that the benefits are very significant and will contribute positively to this effort."
Asked about the issue of the appointment of a special envoy by the UN Secretary-General, the Spokesperson said that "we believe that the appointment of a special envoy is also something that will contribute to this mobilization that we aspire to create."
Asked about the meeting between the President of the Republic and AKEL Secretary General Stefanos Stefanou on energy issues, the Spokesman said that "the energy strategy, the strategic planning for Cyprus' energy policy is something that the Government sets as a top priority.
The meeting took place in a very constructive atmosphere, there was a common understanding on the objectives, timetables and priorities set by the Government. The statements made by Mr. Netanyahu yesterday are also relevant as to how the utilization of natural resources, of natural gas, can be made possible, but above all, in the first stage, the arrival of natural gas, so that Cypriot households, which have been experiencing energy shortages lately, can be relieved. And then to take advantage of the current situation with regard to the export of natural gas to the EU, which is something that is currently a very high priority for the EU itself to untie itself from Russia's gas".
Finally, asked about the meeting of the President of the Republic with the leadership of the Pancyprian and Panhellenic Organization of Relatives of Missing Persons and Unclaimed POWs, the Spokesman said that "especially the issue of missing persons is an extremely humanitarian issue. And I was in the USA at the Conference of the PACE and it was something that we saw in our contacts with the State Department, as well as with US Senators and Congressmen.
It cannot and cannot be that in 2023, 49 years after the invasion, there will be people whose relatives will not know their fate. It is in this context that the President not only understands and empathizes with the concerns of the relatives of the missing, but it is something that we as a State should accelerate and further encourage whatever efforts are being made."
(PM/EP)
Contents of this article including associated images are owned by PIO
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or PIO
Source
