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Government Spokesman Constantinos Letibiotis briefed the media today at the Presidential Palace
Asked to refer to the European Council Conclusions and asked what is the next step in relation to Ms Holguín's contacts, the Spokesman said: "What we have seen together with the European Council Conclusions of the day before yesterday is in fact the implementation of the objective that we, as President of the Republic, had set ourselves from the very first moment of taking office, that is, the interconnection of the Euro-Turkish issues together with progress on the Cyprus problem.
We, and when I say we, I mean the Republic of Cyprus and the European Union (EU), have sent a positive message, a specific message to the Turkish side - that we are - we want to be - constructive, and there can be progress on the points, on the chapters of interest to Turkey, as long as there is corresponding progress on the Cyprus problem.
We must once again welcome the European Council Conclusions. A gradual, proportionate and reversible approach should be used in the coming period to implement what the report of the European Commission and the High Representative envisages.
We look forward to the visit of the UN Secretary General's personal envoy to Cyprus in early May, where she will also meet the President of the Republic, in order to look together at the next steps to be taken.
We look forward to the visit of the UN Secretary General's personal envoy to Cyprus at the beginning of May, where she will also meet the President of the Republic, in order to look together at the next steps.
What we will reiterate is our unwavering commitment to efforts to resume negotiations from the point where they have been suspended, as the EU itself has stressed, our commitment to the Security Council resolutions and the agreed framework."
Asked to comment on reports that US missiles were transferred to Israel via Cyprus, the Spokesman said: "We have said that no such permission has ever been given. There is no such permission, nor do we have any such information. There is no evidence of any request for any such transfer on the part of Cyprus."
Asked if there is anything to be concerned about in relation to the attack, which allegedly took place this morning against Iran, the Spokesman replied: "What we have been saying from the very first moment and it is what we will repeat and the European Council has repeated it, is that we are publicly stating once again our position that any actions leading to an escalation of the situation in the region must be avoided. Those actions should be taken to de-escalate the situation in the region.
Cyprus, to the extent that it is possible, that it can play a role, we are trying to contribute precisely to the de-escalation of the crisis in the region."
Asked to comment on a newspaper report that on the basis of an Audit Office report a diplomat was allegedly receiving an expatriate allowance when he was not entitled to it and that he was allegedly the President of the Republic, the Spokesman said: "It is an issue, which is not the first time, it has been raised before, I remind you and during the election period. At that time, an informed response was given by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, by the leadership of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on the basis of a relevant note, which fully documents and justifies the decision. Let me also make a comment that no matter how many times an issue is raised, which has already been raised during the election period, no one will distract the Government from our determination to proceed with the necessary institutional reforms aimed at modernising the state."
Asked whether he believes that the Auditor General's latest statements were deliberate, the Spokesman said: "No, I have not said that. What I have stated is factual. The issue in question has been in the public sphere before. Answers have already been given on this issue and at the same time we consider it very important to mention our determination, our commitment, which continues to be high in terms of promoting institutional reforms, which, moreover, the President himself had announced during his annual programming in January."
Asked if the President had been informed that an official or associate of the CPS had taken part on March 5 in the events that took place inside the Tamasos Diocese in the Diocese of Tamasos on April 8 and that on April 8 he had accompanied his brother, the Metropolitan of Tamassos, to the Holy Synod, for the Metropolitan to project some clips from the circuit video and asked if the CPS Commander had transferred or suspended him, the Spokesman said: "As we have repeatedly positioned ourselves on issues which are currently being investigated, the Government will not position itself."
You are asking issues which relate to the CPS, whether an officer, any officer, has been moved or not, do you understand that this relates to internal issues of the CPS."
(PM/MS/GC/NYAN)
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