The President of the Republic Mr.Nicos Christodoulides received today, at the Presidential Palace, the United Nations (UN) Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs Ms. Rosemary DiCarlo.
After the meeting, Government Spokesman Konstantinos Letibiotis told reporters that Ms DiCarlo's arrival "sends a message from the UN Secretary General about his commitment to the immediate resumption of negotiations.
The President of the Republic conveyed to Ms DiCarlo once again that the first priority of our side is to break the deadlock, to resume negotiations to reach a solution of a bizonal, bicommunal federation within the agreed framework.
The President of the Republic outlined to Ms DiCarlo his proposal for a more active EU engagement on the benefits and incentives it can bring and contribute to achieving a mutually beneficial situation for all parties. He described to Ms. DiCarlo that the EU is our common home, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, already Turkish Cypriots are enjoying some benefits from the EU, and we should not see this proposal as one that contributes negatively, but contributes very positively to the appropriate climate that needs to be cultivated.
The President of the Republic informed about the contacts he will also have in the margins of the European Council next week and about the communication he had with the President of the European Council Mr. Charles Michel and reiterated his readiness at any time, any time Mrs. DiCarlo wishes and finds it useful, for their joint meeting with Mr. Tatar, even today.
Finally, he expressed his willingness and readiness to go to New York if the SG deems it necessary."
Asked about Ms DiCarlo's reaction to the President's suggestion of EU involvement, the Spokesman said that "what the UN recognises is that the EU's role in the negotiations will be supportive, it will not replace the UN, Cyprus is an EU member state, the UN has cooperation with the EU and what the President has made clear is that it is always within the framework of the UN that the negotiations will take place."
Asked whether Ms DiCarlo viewed this proposal positively, the Spokesman said that "Ms di Carlo said that the role of the EU and the cooperation with the UN is excellent. She sees positively that the actions on our part are actions that attempt to cultivate the right climate. And it is what we and all sides want."
Asked if Ms. DiCarlo was asked to convey a message to Mr. Tatar, the Spokesman said "the sincere will of our side to resume negotiations immediately, that we are already at the negotiating table and we are expecting Mr. Tatar to come with sincere will to the negotiating table to reach a solution of a bizonal, bicommunal, federation within the framework of the UN."
Asked about the issue of appointing a special envoy for the Cyprus problem, the Spokesman said that "the President raised this issue with Ms DiCarlo and asked her to take it to the UN Secretary General."
Asked if there will be a meeting between the President and the UN Secretary General in Brussels, the Spokesman said that "the UN Secretary General's schedule is busy, we are waiting. There will certainly be a possibility, even on the sidelines, for a meeting with the President of the Republic."
Asked if only the meeting with Mr Michel in Brussels has been set, the Spokesman said that "the meeting with Mr Michel is set, there will also be a meeting with the Presidents of the institutions and with Heads of State, to be announced in the near future."
(PM/EP/EHR)
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