The President of the Republic Mr.Nicos Christodoulides chaired a meeting of the National Council at the Presidential Palace today. Constantinos Letibiotis told reporters that "it was the first National Council under President Christodoulides, an institution that can be both beneficial and very useful and very productive and as such the President of the Republic approaches it."
It was a constructive discussion. The President of the Republic briefed the political leaders on his contacts in Brussels, on the meeting he had with Mrs Rosemary DiCarlo, but also on his proposal for a more active involvement of the EU in the effort to break the deadlock, to resume negotiations and to resolve the Cyprus problem on the basis of the agreed framework.
The President of the Republic received questions, to which he responded thoroughly, clearly and thoroughly. The President asked all political forces to support and strengthen his efforts so that this proposal for a more active EU engagement - always supportive in the context of the United Nations and he made clear once again that this proposal is not for the EU to replace the United Nations - is supported by all of us and to make it possible to reach a mutually beneficial situation for all parties and to reach a solution to the Cyprus problem."
To a question, the Spokesman said that "what was discussed at length was the cultivation of a positive atmosphere, the positive potential that the President of the Republic, since the day he took office, has been cultivating through his statements and through the initiatives he has taken.
What is most important at the moment is to get across to our Turkish Cypriot compatriots and to Turkey through the EU that the resolution of the Cyprus problem is in the interests of all of us. In addition, the President of the Republic informed the political leaders of his intention to proceed with the establishment of a National Security Council, and that he will send them more details in the coming days to hear their views on the establishment of this Council, which will also have an advisory role to the National Council in its competences."
In addition, the President of the Republic informed the political leaders of his intention to proceed with the establishment of a National Security Council, and that he will send them more details in the coming days to hear their views on the establishment of this Council, which will also have an advisory role to the National Council in its competences.
Asked if the EU ends up not being more actively involved, then we will not be able to break the deadlock and lead to a solution, the Spokesperson said that "the President's proposal is, in order to be able to break the deadlock, to appoint a political figure so that we can break the deadlock and resume negotiations in the agreed framework. If the negotiations resume without the appointment of an envoy, we will obviously resume negotiations. We are at the negotiating table and we call on the other side to show the same sincere will that we are showing so that negotiations can resume."
Asked if there was any reaction from Ankara to this proposal, even informally, the Spokesperson said. You realize that they are in an election period. What we have to focus on at the moment is, until the elections in Turkey are completed, to prepare the ground for this proposal to be implemented as soon as possible."
Asked about the issue of Turkey's prohibition of Cypriot ships to approach its ports, the Spokesman said that these are some of the issues that the President of the Republic is putting in the big "basket" of Euro-Turkish issues.
Asked about the issue of Turkey's prohibition of Cypriot ships to approach its ports, the Spokesman said that these are some of the issues that the President of the Republic is putting in the big "basket" of Euro-Turkish issues.
"And it is for this reason that his proposal for more active EU involvement is about the fact that the EU possesses those incentives that can benefit both Turkey and our Turkish Cypriot compatriots and it is in this context that we believe that, if Turkey approaches this proposal with sobriety and sincere will, we will be able to get out of the deadlock, to resume the talks from where they left off and to be able to resolve the Cyprus problem."
Asked to comment on DISY's proposal for a Cypriot candidacy for the General Secretariat of the International Maritime Organization, the Spokesman said that "the Government is examining all possibilities until the timetable that has been set expires."
Asked to comment on DISY's proposal for a Cypriot candidacy for the General Secretariat of the International Maritime Organization, the Spokesman said that "the Government is examining all possibilities until the timetable that has been set expires. We understand Greece's support for Turkey and Turkey's support for Greece's candidature as a non-permanent member of the Security Council."
The better relations between Greece and Turkey are something we can only welcome and hope that they will continue for as long as possible. This is something that maintains security in our region, but also can assist our efforts to resolve the Cyprus problem."
In response to a reporter's remark that there seems to be a change in the attitude of Tayyip Erdogan on the Greek-Turkish issue and asked whether this can be used to change Turkey's stance on the Cyprus issue, the Spokesman said that "we are also watching the statements. Cyprus joined the EU with the primary objective of our membership to assist the great national goal, the resolution of the Cyprus problem. The accession was for the whole of Cyprus and today our Turkish Cypriot compatriots benefit from many EU related issues. The message that we send on every occasion and the President of the Republic through his own statements is that the EU is our common home, it will be our common home after the resolution of the Cyprus problem, and through this activation of the EU we all have everything to gain.
We are waiting to see how the elections in Turkey will develop, but the most important thing at the moment is to prepare the implementation of this proposal, on the basis of which there will be the appointment of a political personality after the elections in Turkey who will be able to be The President of the Republic reiterated his will, his readiness to hold this social meeting. We have no news so far."
(PM/MG/EXP)
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