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- Ελληνικά
Government Spokesman Konstantinos Letibiotis answered questions from journalists at the Presidential Palace today, as part of his briefing to the media.
Asked where the process on the Pyla issue stands, the Spokesman said: "We are in constant communication with the peacekeeping force, we expect as soon as possible to resume work as normal in accordance with the provisions of the memorandum of understanding. It is one of the issues that the President of the Republic will also discuss during his telephone conversation with the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General (UNSG) this evening."
Asked whether there is any question of renegotiation of the understanding on the Turkish side, the Spokesman said: "We have no such thing in mind. What we are saying is that this understanding has been reached through thorough and intensive consultations and we expect the peacekeeping force to ensure the full implementation of the provisions of the understanding and nothing more and nothing less."
He added that the information available from the peacekeeping force is that the resumption of work will be possible in the very near future, which is the objective of the short suspension of work.
Asked to comment on whether the issue would be resolved or whether there would be a renegotiation, the Spokesperson said: "We are not discussing any renegotiation." He added that the provisions of the memorandum of understanding began to be implemented normally from 23 October 2023 without any problem or objection. "It is precisely this issue that the President of the Republic will raise during his telephone conversation with the UN Secretary General tonight, once again raising the need to resume work as soon as possible."
Asked if there is a risk that work will not resume, the Spokesman said: "We cannot prejudge the attitude of the Turkish side. What we are saying is that this understanding is between us and the peacekeeping force that has control and coordination of the work, and we expect to ensure the resumption of the work."
Regarding the issue of the maritime humanitarian corridor and a comment by a journalist that the Government is being criticized that this initiative is for internal consumption because it is not feasible since there is no port in Gaza, the Spokesman said: "The fact that there is no port was in our minds from the very first moment and therefore in the plans that were made."
The initiative is acknowledged, among others, by the President of the European Commission, who made a reference to it in her briefing to Ambassadors, by the President of France, by the leaders of all the states in the region, including Israel, which in the midst of such a period would not discuss a proposal that would be irrelevant, as some have said.
At the same time, there is the document that the President has also shared with the American Secretary of State, who came to Cyprus precisely for this initiative. I don't think the US Secretary of State visited our country for internal consumption.
It is a detailed 25-page plan that has thoroughly examined all scenarios."
He added that there are short, medium and long term scenarios on how aid can safely reach Gaza.
He explained that "the short term is about transferring aid from Larnaca to a beach via landing craft and we have been approached by states to offer it.
In the medium term, the solution of creating a floating platform is being considered and in the long term the creation of an enclosed port in the area.
We have presented this initiative through which security of cargo through the port is provided and for this we offer not only the geographical proximity of Cyprus and our credibility as an EU member state, but also the long-standing excellent relations we have with the states in the region."
Asked where the technical means will be found for vessels to reach the Gaza coast, Letybiotis said: "That there are technical issues in terms of implementing an initiative whose complexity, scope and intensity is unprecedented, not only for Cyprus but also for the region, that is a given."
But before this initiative is presented, not only to the leaders of the member states, but also at the conference in France recently, all the technical issues have been considered. We are in contact with States, States have approached us to provide this technical support. In any case it will be needed, such is the size of this initiative that the assistance and contribution of other states and international organizations is imperative."
Asked if there is any progress on the issue of the appointment of an EU envoy for the Cyprus problem, the Spokesman said: "The appointment of an envoy by the UN Secretary General will also be the first step towards the appointment of a European envoy, which was in fact part of the President's proposal, and it is relevant to the December European Council at which the Euro-Turkish issues will be discussed or that was the original plan. What is proposed as a first step is the appointment of an envoy on the part of the UN Secretary General whose work will be very substantially and productively assisted by the EU."
Asked whether Israel is positive about what Cyprus is planning for humanitarian aid to Gaza, the Spokesman reiterated that a team of technocrats has returned from Israel and will go again with the Foreign Minister, adding that there will be announcements in the coming days. He noted that acceptance on the part of Israel is a key ingredient and so far this cooperation exists.
To another question, he said that the Gaza proposal involves five stages and the technical details of the initiative, which involves complexity, are now being examined.
"We will ensure that on our side the plans are ready and we can start immediately," he said.
Asked about the court decision regarding the clipped depositor case and whether the Government was considering compensation for clipped depositors, the Spokesperson said "the President was not waiting for a court decision to consider it. He is known to have held meetings with the associations of stunted depositors and security holders. The President's election pledges have already been implemented. By the end of the year, the platform will also be ready where they will be able to fill in the application and according to the capabilities of the state and the data that will be put before the platform, any action it can take will be considered."
Asked to comment on the publication that refers to an investigation being made public this afternoon on Cyprus, the Spokesman said that "we have seen the publications. Our country has been shielded in recent years. We say this with certainty, confidence and assurance because we know the framework that our country now has and is implementing. A meeting was held last week under the President of the Republic to monitor the implementation of the latest measures that our administration has taken, and we will continue to shield our financial system and the credibility of our country even further, as demonstrated by the Moneyval reports and the ratings of our economy. We will see the data that will be presented this afternoon, there will be an immediate position from the Government and any investigation if the need arises."
To another question, he said that it is clear the measures that have been taken in the last year and in previous years and the positions of the US and UK Governments regarding the credibility of the Republic of Cyprus and its immediate response regarding the sanctions are relevant.
"We are confident that today the Republic of Cyprus is a credible country, with a credible financial system, possibly with one of the most stringent frameworks surrounding it, and we will continue to maintain that credibility. There is zero tolerance on issues of fighting dirty money or circumventing sanctions and will continue to be zero tolerance," he said.
In response to a reporter's comment that there are complaints from the international community that there is disproportionate punishment of Palestinians by Israel and that what it is doing constitutes a war crime and that the Republic of Cyprus has limited itself to recognizing Israel's right to self-defense, the Spokesman said: "The Republic of Cyprus has taken a position from the very beginning, after the Hamas terrorist attack, and we have pointed out from the very first moment the need to avoid the loss of civilian lives, and we insist on this, it is a position based on timeless principles and values."
The Republic of Cyprus is essentially moving from the stage of rhetoric to practice. This initiative by the Republic of Cyprus to provide the civilian population of Gaza with much needed humanitarian assistance is a practical demonstration of where the Republic of Cyprus stands on the humanitarian crisis."
He added that "we are constantly assessing the facts. What we will remain true to is the timeless values on which our relations with the states of the region are based. In all international forums in which we participate, we reiterate in every possible way the need to avoid civilian casualties, which for us is a key component in the effort to de-escalate the crisis and to resume political dialogue, which should always be the goal."
Asked if the Republic of Cyprus intends to seek a ceasefire from Israel, the Spokesman said that "I wish there would be a ceasefire. What we are discussing right now with the initiative would have to be implemented through some humanitarian pauses, possibly of a few hours so that humanitarian aid can arrive. And that will be a first, very important step that will send some very substantial political messages."
Asked if the issue of lifting the veto was discussed at yesterday's working dinner of a group of EU leaders in Berlin, the Spokesman said it was not at the heart of the discussion at the dinner.
Asked about the EU's strategic agenda, Mr. Letibiotis said it is a huge issue, adding that "for us what should be prioritised is the strategic autonomy of the EU which can be characterised by two objectives concerning a more resilient and competitive Europe and secondly, the strengthening of the EU's geopolitical role internationally and in the region."
On the issue of the veto, the Spokesman said: "We, as the Republic of Cyprus, are ready to have a discussion while maintaining a constructive attitude, provided that there are some safeguards, especially for small member states to safeguard their vital national interests. But before we have this debate, what is important is to determine what the common interest of the EU is and how we can achieve it. At this stage, the discussion about differentiating the way of decision-making in the EU is not the focus."
Asked whether AKEL is unfairly criticising the President of the Republic for going to Berlin to discuss lifting the veto, the Spokesman said: "Possibly they did not listen carefully to the President's statements. The stance of the Republic of Cyprus is what I have mentioned, it is based on our long-standing stance, we always put the vital national interests of our country first, and that is what the President of the Republic does in every statement. We are, after all, a European country. We were, are and will remain Europeanists, because we believe in European integration. We are one of the countries that believe that more Europe can contribute to the development of the international community."
Finally, asked whether the President of the Republic will have contacts with mayoral candidates, the Spokesman assured that "the President of the Republic and the Presidency in general will remain faithful to their institutional role. The President of the Republic, as President of all Cypriots, faces daily challenges that we have to face, to further modernize our country, and we will not get involved in any way in electoral contests."
(PM/NG/MS/GS)
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