The President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, expressed his belief that, together with Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhürman, they can “make history” while speaking to “Genî Duzen,” in his first interview with a Turkish Cypriot media outlet in three years, noting at the same time that “as Greek Cypriots, we have no Plan B. The only possible solution is the reunification of Cyprus. The current status quo does not allow our country to fully realize its potential.”
“If everything were up to Mr. Erciyuman and me, we could reach a solution by next week. But the decision does not depend solely on us. I believe that Mr. Erhurman also genuinely wants a solution,” noted the President of the Republic.
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The President emphasized that “everyone says they want a solution. The negotiating table is where we will all be put to the test.” He acknowledged that “at the end of the day, there will be mutual concessions. No one will be able to get everything they want,” while also warning: “If we cannot reunify our country, it is only the Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots who will lose out under the current status quo. No one else.”
President Christodoulides stated that he proposed to Mr. Erciyaman the method of “cross-negotiation,” that is, examining the six chapters in pairs (e.g., territorial issues with property issues, governance with security and guarantees), as was done at Crans-Montana. “Let’s discuss the six chapters in pairs, at two separate tables, as was done in Crans-Montana. Let’s discuss, for example, territory and property together. Let’s discuss, for example, the issue of governance and the issue of security and guarantees together,” he said. “If we conduct negotiations in this way—I’ve had this experience; this is what we did in Crans-Montana—we saw that it was successful,” he added.
Referring to the Turkish Cypriot leader’s proposals, he noted that “the only point on which I disagree regarding the proposals on methodology is the issue of predetermined sanctions.”
He also emphasized that he “will not put a plan to a referendum if I do not agree with it. I will put forward a plan with which I agree, and of course I will campaign in favor of that plan. Otherwise, what’s the point? I will take responsibility and will not submit it to a popular vote.”
The President of the Republic also stated that “the Secretary-General spoke very clearly when he was in Cyprus. He said that the substantive issues—that is, the content—must be discussed while taking into account the points of convergence we had reached up until the last day in Crans-Montana.”
Therefore, he added, “from my point of view, the only issue pending at this moment is the confidence-building measures,” noting that UN envoy María Ángela Olguín is already compiling the relevant list. “If we leave out the common ground reached at Crans-Montana, we will have taken a major step backward. Because the meetings involving all parties took place during the Crans-Montana talks, and the reason for that was the Guterres framework,” he emphasized.
“If we make progress at the UN General Assembly in late September, we will have paved the way for the 5+1 format,” he said. He clarified, however, that “making progress on confidence-building measures is not a prerequisite for holding an expanded meeting,” adding that the confidence-building measures will be implemented much more easily once negotiations begin. Regarding roadblocks, he noted that “the Secretary-General is seeking ‘a reasonable agreement’ on the issue of crossing points.”
Referring to Ankara, the President said that “Turkey will resolve the Cyprus problem when it deems that the benefits resulting from a solution to the Cyprus problem outweigh the benefits it derives from the current status quo”. For this reason, he explained, it is working on two parallel tracks: the resumption of negotiations and progress in Turkey-EU relations.
“We cannot change geography. We want to have good relations with Turkey, just as we do with all our neighbors,” he said, while assuring that “our regional alliances were not formed against Turkey or the Turkish Cypriots.” He categorically ruled out partition, stating, “I am in favor of confidence-building measures that support our efforts toward a solution based on a bizonal, bicommunal federation. However, I am not in favor of confidence-building measures that, in a sense, normalize the current status quo and support the notion of ‘living as two good neighbors side by side.’ This, he noted, “means a two-state solution. And I will never, ever accept that. That would be a disaster for the Greek Cypriots. And if you ask my humble opinion, it would be a disaster for the Turkish Cypriots as well.”
When asked if he had a message for the Turkish Cypriots, President Christodoulides replied that “our future is shared. We have a shared future in a united Cyprus that is a member of the European Union. I truly believe that the European Union could address and overcome all of our concerns. Both the concerns of the Greek Cypriots and those of the Turkish Cypriots.”
When asked who would guarantee the implementation of the solution, he replied, “The EU’s role in this process is crucial. The EU is the strongest guarantee for the concerns of the Turkish Cypriots.”
The President of the Republic also sent a message of solidarity to the Turkish Cypriot community regarding the shipwreck in Kyrenia.
Source: CNA
