[PIO] Statements of the President of the Republic on his visit to the CMP Anthropological Workshop

The hope that the initiative of our side that led to the joint meeting between him and the leader of the Turkish Cypriot community at the CMP's Anthropological Laboratory will have results was expressed today by the President of the Republic Mr. Nicos Christodoulides.

In a statement to journalists at the Presidential Palace on his return from the ICRC Anthropological Workshop, which he visited jointly with the Turkish Cypriot leader, President Christodoulides said: "This is not the first time I have visited the Anthropological Workshop, but each time, going there and seeing the important work being done is a different experience. I hope that our initiative that led to this joint meeting, to the joint communiqué, will have results.

We will assess the reaction to the joint appeal to the Cypriot people. Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, which we did with Mr Tatar, and I hope there will be results.

I also asked Mr Tatar, taking into account that his father was also a member of the ICJ for more than 20 years, due to the fact that the passage of time creates more difficulties, and the fact that this is a humanitarian issue, to cooperate even more. It was in this context that I conveyed the idea that was first heard from Mr. Achilleas Dimitriadis for a truth commission, which can work in parallel with the CMP, since there is important work being done there, so that there is nothing that could negatively affect its work.

I referred to the idea of Mr. Demetriades' idea, the two heads will discuss, I referred to the efforts we are making to strengthen the work of the CMP even more, because it is a pity that there is information and there are not more groups dealing with the information that exists.

At the moment there are about seven groups dealing with it and we should strengthen them even more.

I referred to the role of the EU which is the financial support of the CMP, as is the Republic of Cyprus.

I referred to the role of the EU which is the financial support of the CMP, as is the Republic of Cyprus. In every meeting we have with foreign governments we raise the issue of strengthening the work of the ICRC.

It is a humanitarian issue. But if there is what is a common aspiration, for more results, more information, I think it will also send a clear political message. It is the most powerful confidence-building measure. We in all cases involving our Turkish Cypriot compatriots are here to cooperate. Recently, even today, we responded positively to a request from our Turkish Cypriot compatriots to provide them with some medicines they need. Whatever request we have, we look at it with a positive approach. We are working on a package of unilateral measures for our Turkish Cypriot compatriots. His reaction was positive for the meeting to take place, I told him if we can approach him jointly it would be even better, he did not respond to me on this specific, but he is positive on the meeting, and I hope if the meeting takes place, which I think will be crucial, there will be results."

Asked whether Mr. Tatar committed to exhumations in Dikomo, where there is information that there are remains or that they were moved there, and whether he committed to access to the archives of the occupation army, the President said: "Access to the records of the occupation army is not Mr. Tatar's job. It is Turkey's business and we know that there is not the cooperation that could have existed."

Through the presentation that was given to us by the scientists, the question arose which I raised before Mr. Tatar and I also asked the scientists, whether bones are found in different places. And, yes, they confirmed to me that there are cases in up to three different places. During the briefing by the scientists, I told Mr Tatar that this relates to the case of Assia, we all know where they have been transported and we should move on. For us it does not matter if they are Greek Cypriots or Turkish Cypriots.

I would like to take this opportunity to tell you that we as the Republic of Cyprus have officially asked the EU to finance the necessary works that need to be done in this particular area, so that excavations can be done (on the issue of the σκυbalotopos), because that is where the information we have is."

He added that the third member of the CMP referred to two challenges and the first was "the transportation of bones which seems to have been done in some of the cases, according to testimonies. The relevant processes need to be done there as well. I knew through my discussions with relatives of missing persons and this was confirmed by scientists that many relatives refuse to receive bones when we are talking about a very small piece, and I fully understand their approach."

Asked to comment on Tatar's statements during the visit to the Anthropological Laboratory in which he reiterated his intransigent positions on the Cyprus problem, the President of the Republic said: "I did not go there to discuss this issue, first of all out of respect for relatives of the missing who have been waiting for so many years and expect something positive to come out of such meetings."

I did not expect to hear anything different, I know very well Mr Tatar's positions, but at the same time this does not discourage me from doing what is necessary for the talks to resume. I have heard many statements, I have heard Mr Tatar today, I have heard his statements yesterday, I have heard Mr Erdogan's statements, which have also been interpreted differently. What I can say is that from our side we will continue - and we are continuing even now - at the technocratic level in particular, our efforts towards the resumption of the talks, always on the basis of the agreed framework."

Asked whether in the light of the current climate he believes that in the margins of the General Assembly there will be something on the resumption of the talks, the President of the Republic said: "I will do everything possible to achieve a positive outcome. That is what I will do and that is what I have been doing since the first day I took office. I am aware of the difficulties, the challenges that lie ahead of us, but this in no way means that we will stop our efforts, on the contrary, we are intensifying them.

The current state of affairs cannot be the solution to the Cyprus problem. It is our homeland under occupation and we, we have an obligation more than anyone else to do everything possible."

Asked to comment on reports that the Greek Prime Minister is coming to Cyprus to put pressure on him in relation to the Cyprus problem, President Christodoulides said: "I don't know where this alleged information comes from, because there is absolutely no such thing. Our coordination is excellent with the Greek Prime Minister and the fact is that despite the difficulties he is facing, and we hope this difficult situation will be addressed, he will come to Cyprus to coordinate, especially on the European aspect, on the Euro-Turkish issues that we have highlighted through our own initiatives."

In response to a journalist's remark that Germany is raising obstacles in relation to the issue of EU funding to the ICRC, the President said: "It is a fact, we are in discussion with the German Government to reverse their decision. I am optimistic that we will succeed. The EU is the number one donor to the CMP and it is an indication of our overall approach that the EU wanted to have a representative present at the meeting today. It was not possible, you can imagine the reasons why it was not possible, but I think the fact that he asked for it is important."

Asked about the Nava report on irregularities in the ICRC, the President said he was not aware of the report, but added that he would ask for information.

Finally, asked whether a negotiating team would be set up to support the Greek Cypriot negotiator on the Cyprus problem, the President said: "Very soon, possibly before New York, there will be the formation of this team. Before I go to New York I will also have a meeting with the National Council and within this framework we will discuss this issue."

(PM/AF/SX)
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