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Government Spokesman Konstantinos Letibiotis answered questions from journalists today, as part of his briefing to the media at the Presidential Palace.
Asked whether he believes that the Turkish moves in the Agios Dometios area are a continuation of their moves in Pyla, the Spokesman said: "Obviously the two moves cannot be disconnected. We are currently in constant communication with the peacekeeping force which is also closely monitoring the St. Dometius area, the House of Mary, so that the status of the buffer zone can be restored."
Asked whether, given that the Turkish moves in the St. Dometius area took place some time ago, the Government has made proactive contacts to the United Nations, the Spokesman said: "The peacekeeping force is ensuring the status of the buffer zone. Incidents in the so-called House of Mary have occurred in the past. Where we have identified attempts to violate the regime we have been in contact with the peacekeeping force, which we now expect to take all necessary measures and actions to restore the regime to what it was before the recent events."
Asked about the motives of the Turks, the Spokesman said he could not draw any conclusions in this regard. "What we can say is that challenging the status of the buffer zone cannot be accepted," he added."
To another question, he said: "When the unacceptable incidents took place in Pyla there was the unprecedented reaction of the international community, because of the diplomatic interventions that the Republic of Cyprus had made as an EU member state, but also through our active diplomacy."
We are in communication with all our partners in the EU and also with member states of the UN Security Council, where we inform them about the plans and incidents that have taken place in the buffer zone.
To a reporter's remark that despite the fact that there was a meeting on Pyla nevertheless all work stopped and there was the incident at St. Dometius, and asked what was wrong with the agreements that were made in which there seems to have been concessions on our part, and asked if the Government will make representations in relation to the St. Dometius issue, the Spokesman said: "It was not an agreement, but a meeting between us and the peacekeeping force. As is the terms of reference of UNFICYP since 1964, it has the responsibility and coordination of securing the status of the buffer zone. This meeting in Pyla was the result of both our initiative and our proposals on how to turn that crisis into an opportunity.
From the first moment the meeting was reached we welcomed all the provisions and sincerely stated our political will to implement in full the provisions that would be in the interest of both communities in the region.
There was no concession to the Turkish regime, far from it. In reaching the understanding, once again the status of the buffer zone was secured, the buffer zone was demarcated and the terms of reference of UNFICYP which the occupation regime was attempting to challenge, as was the status of the buffer zone.
I cannot know whether anything went wrong, what I can say is that the Government of Nicos Christodoulides is a reliable partner that not only takes initiatives but also fully respects what has been agreed. Our side has started implementing, to the letter, all the provisions, as stipulated in the understanding with the peacekeeping force."
In response to a reporter's remark that residents of Agios Dometios are expressing concerns about their safety, the Spokesman said: "The Government is taking all necessary measures to ensure the safety of the residents of the area, as it did in the case of Pyla. The Government, from the first moment it was informed of yesterday's events, took the necessary steps to ensure their safety."
Asked if the President of the Republic has found the person who will assume the post of Deputy Minister of State for European Affairs, the Spokesman said that once the decision has been taken by the President of the Republic, announcements will be made as soon as possible.
Asked if the President of the Republic would question the final amount expected to be returned to the public according to the estimates of the Audit Office, the Spokesman said: "You are referring to reports today, because as far as I know, the report of the Audit Office has not yet been made public. What I wish to say, as a first comment, is that what was done was done with full legality on the basis of legal advice from the then Attorney General and a decision of the Council of Ministers, which was communicated both to the House of Representatives and to Mr. Odysseus Michaelides, then Auditor General of the Republic. As the Government we will respond in writing to the Audit Office, exactly as provided for in the procedure. We question, however, as to the expediency or benefit of today's leak to a newspaper, which more likely contains components of political expediency."
Asked why a team from Cyprus needs to go to Qatar on the issue of the Republic of Cyprus' proposal to establish a maritime humanitarian aid corridor in Gaza, the Spokesman said that yesterday during the meeting between the President of the Republic and the Emir of Qatar "there was great interest in the implementation of the initiative, the complexity of which requires the involvement of as many states and international organizations as possible. There are technical issues that are currently on the table. We have moved from the political to the technical level and that is why, in order to be able to assist the States that wish to do so, our own experts will go to Qatar in this case, which has expressed an interest, to be able to develop some technical details.
He added that the team from Cyprus may also go to Qatar tomorrow.
To a reporter's remark that Cyprus is waiting for the "green light" from Israel on the issue of the maritime humanitarian corridor and to a question on how Israel has responded so far, the Spokesman said: "We are in continuous consultations with Israel so that all the technical issues that need to be resolved for the implementation of the corridor can be put on the table. Israel's initial position is known to be positively approaching - there have been representations from Israel on this. From our side, there has been very meticulous planning so that the proposal can be implemented when conditions allow. The reason why the initiative is being accepted by states and international organizations is because it brings together those features that can make it feasible, but also ensure the long-term provision of humanitarian assistance."
Asked when humanitarian aid will be sent to Gaza, the Spokesman said: "We are in contact with States and with international organisations that have expressed readiness to send humanitarian assistance to Cyprus as part of our initiative."
Finally, asked in relation to the appointment of an envoy by the UN Secretary General on the Cyprus problem, the Spokesperson said that it is a matter of days according to the information available.
(PM/AF/EP)
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