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- Ελληνικά
Government Spokesman Konstantinos Letibiotis answered questions from journalists today, as part of his media briefing at the Presidential Palace.
During the briefing, Mr.Letibiotis said: "Let me begin by commenting on the absence of members of the Government from yesterday's plenary session of the House of Assembly to discuss the state budget. The absence of members of the executive created an image, which is in no way due to disrespect to the executive. In any case, it was an oversight, it was a mistake which we acknowledge.
Respect for the legislature is a given and self-evident. Besides, respect for the House of Representatives has been demonstrated in practice through the cordial cooperation that has allowed the resolution of issues that for years have been pending, such as, for example, the framework for dealing with non-performing loans (NPLs), VAT on first homes and many others.
The Executive demonstrates respect for the House of Representatives every day through the timely advancement of important bills and sincere cooperation on a number of reforms. Particularly in the debate on the State Budget, the members of the Cabinet in the relevant committees, in a sincere spirit, exchanged views and listened to concerns and suggestions to shape the budget.
Both today and at tomorrow's session of the House of Representatives, members of the Cabinet who are not absent abroad will attend the debate, as scheduled."
Asked about the issue of the British ship carrying humanitarian aid for the civilian population in Gaza, the Spokesman said: "The implementation of the initiative has long been the focus of the Republic of Cyprus' diplomatic contacts. The visits and contacts that the Foreign Minister himself is making and the visits that we will have in Cyprus tomorrow as part of the implementation of the initiative are relevant. Several states and organisations have expressed their willingness to assist either with humanitarian aid, or logistically, or by providing means that can help in the implementation of the initiative. When there is something that can be formally announced as part of this initiative, this will be done as soon as possible. What we can say is that it is a given that the complexity of such an initiative requires very detailed planning, which has been done on the part of the Republic of Cyprus, and it is no longer our responsibility to start implementation. We are waiting for the circumstances to allow it to be implemented."
Asked where the British ship will arrive, the Spokesman said: "The aim of the initiative is for humanitarian aid to arrive, to be distributed to the civilian population in Gaza," adding "When there is something that can be announced that will be announced as soon as possible."
To another question the Spokesman said: "It is known that humanitarian aid arrived a few days ago from the UK, which had been stored in Larnaca, mainly relating to tents to enable the civilian population in Gaza to stay temporarily. The humanitarian aid currently needed by the stranded civilian population is food and medication."
In response to a reporter's remark that the President in his remarks the day before yesterday referred to meetings with heads of state in the Middle East, the Spokesman said: "At the moment the President of the Republic himself and the Foreign Minister are in contact with both Mediterranean and regional states. It is relevant the discussion that took place in the European Council last week, which unfortunately it was not possible to reach a common position as the European Union (EU). An issue that the President of the Republic himself has mentioned as a plague on the way decisions are taken or on the way the EU is positioning itself on the issue of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
We are in constant contact with the states of the region, with which we continue to maintain very good and excellent relations. What I can tell you is that at the heart of these contacts is also the implementation of the initiative."
Asked whether the visit of the Israeli Foreign Minister might also signify a formal acceptance on the part of Israel to implement the initiative, the Spokesman said: "At the political level we have said this before. Obviously for there to be these frequent contacts, the visits on the part of Israel last week or on the part of the technical team of Cyprus in Israel there is this willingness to implement the initiative. We have said that the initiative has moved from the political level to the technical level. The technical issues have been raised and most or almost all of them have been resolved. The initiative includes a very detailed plan for its implementation. We expect that when conditions permit, when Israel itself gives the green light, the initiative can be implemented. But let us not get ahead of ourselves. Let's see tomorrow how the meeting will take place, the Foreign Minister himself will see in person and the infrastructure, which is part of the initiative."
In response to a reporter's remark that the Republic of Cyprus is preparing for a legal battle over the usurpation of property in the occupied territories and asked if this represents a change of course in what has been in place so far, the Spokesman said: "What the Republic of Cyprus has been doing over time and what it is doing today is that we are following developments in the occupied areas very closely and we are looking at all the measures that can be taken to prevent the usurpation of property in our occupied areas. Various measures of a legal nature are being considered. But what is urgent at the moment, beyond that, is our effort to resume negotiations because the definitive way, the sure, permanent way to be able to prevent these actions, the usurpation of property, is through the resolution of the Cyprus problem."
In response to a question, he said: "It is not something that can be discussed publicly at the moment about the measures that are being considered at the moment, what those measures are and when they will be taken."
Asked if there is any information on the extent of land involved in land usurpation for exploitation in the occupied territories, the Spokesman said: "There is the information, we are monitoring it closely, constantly."
Asked if the figure of 1 million acres is valid, the Spokesman said: "I don't have a specific number in front of me right now. What I can tell you responsibly is that we are constantly monitoring developments, we are aware of what is happening in our occupied areas and it is for this reason that we are considering all the measures that can be taken."
Asked if there is any information on who the buyers of the properties in the occupied territories are, the Spokesman said "We are aware of some information about some of them."
Asked if the Government is concerned by the fact that the Turkish Cypriot leader turned to Moscow asking for direct flights to the occupied territories, the Spokesman said: "It is the long-standing aspiration/attitude of the pseudo-state for recognition or to develop more diplomatic contacts with various countries. As is well known, the Russian Federation is one of the five permanent members of the Security Council. The Security Council resolutions are relevant and it is a given that the only recognized state is the Republic of Cyprus. We are constantly in contact with all the permanent members of the Security Council and we are making all diplomatic representations constantly and continuously."
Asked why the UN Secretary General's announcement on the appointment of an envoy for the Cyprus problem was delayed, Letibiotis said: "The information we have is that this announcement will be made within the next few days. We have the information that the other side has also responded positively and what is expected is the official announcement so that the UN Secretary General's envoy can immediately start her contacts from the beginning of the new year."
Asked if the delay is due to the fact that the terms of reference of the envoy have not been finalized, the Spokesman said: "The terms of reference are specific and will flow from Security Council resolutions. The UN Secretary-General himself is bound by the UN Security Council resolutions, let alone his envoy."
Asked whether the terms of reference will include a timetable, the Spokesperson said: "No we are not aware of a timetable. The terms of reference are to explore the prospect of resuming negotiations in accordance with Security Council resolutions."
Asked if there is a response to the President's request to increase the envoy's time in Cyprus, Mr. Letibiotis said: "What the President of the Republic himself has conveyed to the UN Secretary General during their meeting in New York in September is that the UN Secretary General's envoy should devote time - that the top priority should be sustained, intensive contacts and meetings with both sides, so that this exploration of the prospect of the resumption of negotiations is more effective."
Asked to comment on reports that the Turkish President urged the Turkish Cypriot leader to avoid making statements on the Cyprus issue because it is a matter between Greece and Turkey, the Spokesman said he was not commenting on reports, adding: "We are waiting to see in practice both the appointment of the UN Secretary General's envoy and on substance the constructive attitude that the other side should show towards efforts to resume negotiations. That is what concerns us. We are concerned about their attitude to the efforts to resume negotiations."
Asked about the issue of the Gate, the Spokesman said: "We are in constant, daily contact with the peacekeeping force. What we expect from the peacekeeping force is to resume work in Pyla, to implement the understanding, which we really believe will be to the benefit of both communities. It is not only us who are saying this, but also the members of the United Nations Security Council themselves. And in Santo Domingo we expect the peacekeeping force, in accordance with its terms of reference, to restore the status quo as it was before the events of two weeks ago."
Asked if in addition to waiting for an announcement of an envoy from the UN Secretary General, we are also waiting for an announcement of an envoy from the EU side, as had been indicated that it would be done at the same time, the Spokesperson said: "The President has recently given an interview in which he referred to this issue, that it is an effort that is also, of course, in diplomatic contacts. The communication that we have with our EU partners is that the first important step that should have been taken was precisely the appointment of an envoy on the part of the UN Secretary General. We have in our contacts at the EU level the initiative of the President of the Republic for a more active involvement of the EU in the efforts to resume negotiations with a specific personality and, of course, it is something that will be more in the focus of our contacts and with the appointment of the envoy on the part of the Secretary General."
Asked about the issue of the appointment of a Financial Commissioner, the Spokesman said: "The Council should first be appointed, also in accordance with the new legislation, which should come up with its recommendations to the Cabinet and after these recommendations a final decision should be taken."
He added that the decision on the issue of the Council would be taken either at tomorrow's Cabinet meeting or at the next one.
Finally, asked about the establishment of the Deputy Ministry of Immigration, the Spokesman said: "You understand that the bill has been prepared and forwarded to Parliament since last June. We as a Government have on several occasions called on the House of Representatives to move the Bill into law as soon as possible. We believe - and this has been proven in practice through procedures, through actions taken - that the picture has already been greatly improved in terms of managing the increased migration flows. Returns have increased by 50%, arrivals have decreased by 50%. And the implementation of this very important reform, the establishment of the Deputy Ministry of Immigration, will have a very catalytic effect in speeding up procedures even more, in managing migration even more effectively. So, we expect and call on the House of Representatives, on the basis of your question, to push this forward as soon as possible."
(PM/NG/EATH)
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