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The President of the Republic Mr. Nicos Christodoulides, who arrived today at the "Lt.
Asked about criticism from AKEL for its neutral stance on the issue of the conflict between the Attorney General and the Auditor General, the President replied, "I have nothing to add to what I have said. AKEL can deal with all issues on a daily basis, make announcements, criticise all issues. My statements were very clear. My position is very, very clear. If AKEL considers that this issue lends itself to daily criticism, it is a matter for AKEL."
Asked what moves he made to try to prevent this crisis, Christodoulides said: "I don't have anything else to add. I have made moves, yes, because I told you it is not a positive development. I have made efforts. They have not worked. Beyond that, I have nothing to add."
Asked to comment on the criticism of how the Ministry of Education will honour the Turkish invasion, the President replied. Very sad for anyone to think that we are not condemning the coup. It is sad."
In response to a reporter's comment on Stephen Stefanos' statement that he had not received a response to his letter, the President said: "At such moments, if we really want to show what our common goal is, to send a positive message to society, unfortunately at such tragic moments - and I condemn, for them to hear it again, as I keep saying, this is my position and always has been, the treasonous coup - let us use these dark moments in the history of our country to see how we move forward united. You know, the elections will be over very soon. They will be completed at the beginning of June. We have big challenges ahead of us, whether they relate to our national issue or issues of internal governance. And I, first and foremost, extend a hand of cooperation to AKEL and to all political forces. Because the world expects all of us to work together to face the challenges. So, from my side, I am not going to get involved in any daily confrontation, criticism and so on. Everyone is free, if they think this is the right tactic, to criticize."
Asked about the Amalthea project and when the next ship is expected to leave, the President replied. We are doing all the groundwork, in particular with the United States, the United Arab Emirates and the European Union, to resume the dispatch of humanitarian aid to this point. This afternoon the British Prime Minister asked to speak to me about this issue as well. We will have a telephone conversation. The President of the Commission will be here tomorrow. It is one of the issues that we will be dealing with and, I repeat, we are doing all the groundwork. We are ready to start as soon as we get the green light from the United States side."
Asked whether there will be any announcements on the European Union's support package for the country to deal with migratory flows as part of his visit with the President of the Commission to Lebanon, the President said: "The Commission yesterday was very careful. It did not make any announcements. Very logical, because the Chairperson of the Commission will make them. Announcements, which I have been informed of and, indeed, demonstrate in practice. And I want to remind you that from the very first European Council that I attended as President of the Republic of Cyprus, in March 2023, I raised the issue of Lebanon. I am glad that there was this response from the President of the European Commission. We will go together to Lebanon on Thursday and look forward to it. She will make the announcements herself. This is the right thing to do."
Asked how the Government is proceeding on issues that affect the daily lives of citizens, which as a Government they have made a priority, such as the Port, the Larnaca Marina, the consortium that owns the airports and is not meeting the terms, and the terminal at Vasilikos, where workers from China are still expected to arrive, the President said: "You are absolutely right. These are issues that are very high on the Government's priorities. We should separate them. On the airport issue we are in discussions, we are in negotiations. I am confident that there will be a positive outcome. We are discussing within the framework of the contract. Unfortunately, on the port, things are not positive. And I said again that the state cannot be blackmailed by anybody. We are also in contact with the Mayor of Larnaca. We are trying to find a solution, because we want this development of the port to happen - and it will happen - and we are trying to find a solution. So, I do not think that these two are connected. Beyond that, in the terminal there is progress on the land works, there is progress on the issue of the ship, the floating unit. There is a problem with the quay. Yesterday I had a two-hour meeting with the Minister of Energy. We also discussed this particular issue. We are here to deal with these kinds of challenges, which are daily challenges. Challenges, dealing with which will improve what you mentioned above, and which is the first and main priority of the government, the improvement of the daily life of the citizen."
Asked whether he is discussing with Athens and whether there is a possibility of having another strategy on the Cyprus issue or giving a message to Turkey, following yesterday's news that Mr. Erdoğan gave instructions that the blue homeland should now be taught in all levels of Turkish education with maps and that the Aegean Sea should now be referred to as the Sea of Islands, Christodoulides replied. Let me even remind you - and it is to their credit, I want to mention it - that there has been a reaction from the Turkish Cypriots themselves, the teachers, to such efforts on the part of Turkey. Beyond that, in relation to your question about Greece, yes, there is coordination at all levels. A coordination and cooperation, which I would like to welcome. There will also be a meeting, as you know, with the Greek Prime Minister. He will have a meeting with Mr Erdogan. We are in contact. We are here, both Greece and Cyprus, and because I am also in a camp, we are showing through our actions that we are pillars of security and stability. We are here to resolve any differences through diplomacy, through dialogue, and we hope that there will be a response. It was in this context, to expand on your question, that we as the European Union, led by Cyprus and Greece, sent a positive message to Turkey. A positive message, and it depends on Turkey whether this message will be translated into positive concrete developments, if and when there is progress on the Cyprus problem. And I say this because next week is crucial, it is important. Mrs Holguin is coming to Cyprus. She is coming from Germany, from France, from Brussels, from Turkey itself, and we hope that there will be such data that will allow us to be optimistic about the resumption of the talks."
In response to a journalist's remark that this positive message was also conveyed to Mrs. Holguín yesterday by Mr. Charles Michel, and asked how he could make use of it, the President replied, "I think Mr. Michel's statements were clear. You have seen them. And previously the President of the Commission in an interview he had on Sunday. From there we can look forward to next week. I hope so. From our side, the readiness is stated, very concrete, not theoretical, not general, and we hope that data will emerge that will lead us to a resumption."
(EAT/EP)
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