Setting terms and conditions before negotiations resume is a tactic that does not help move things forward, said the President of the Republic, Mr. Nikos Christodoulides, today.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the memorial service for the heroes of Trikomo in Limassol, and in response to a reporter’s observation that it appears the Turkish Cypriot leader was displeased with President Christodoulides’ remarks last night in Pyla and that this was why he himself did not make any statements, the President of the Republic said, “I cannot know why the Turkish Cypriot leader did not make any statements; he didn’t mention anything to me during the event, but I cannot know the reasons, and I do not believe I said anything that would justify any offense.”
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VIDEO: Erhurman’s dance at the Bi-communal Peace Festival in Pyla
Let it be now!
When asked whether he believed that the President’s barbs directed at Ankara had upset Mr. Erhurman, President Christodoulides said that “These are not barbs; they are a clear statement that the key to the solution of the Cyprus problem lies with Turkey, and I did, in fact, specifically that, without underestimating the role we ourselves can play in Cyprus.”
In response to a journalist’s remark that Mr. Erhurman, in an interview, had called on him to clarify his position on the rotating presidency in the context of the reunification discussion, the President of the Republic said, “I find the Turkish Cypriot leader’s interview particularly revealing, especially regarding the question you have raised. Because it is clear that, on the Turkish side—and I have also briefed the National Council on this aspect—terms and conditions are being set for the resumption of talks, the prior acceptance on our part of specific positions of interest to the Turkish Cypriot community, without any willingness whatsoever to discuss or accept our own positions on other important aspects of the Cyprus issue.
It is for this reason that I have repeatedly stated that all these issues must be discussed at the negotiating table. I believe that setting terms and conditions before the resumption of negotiations is a tactic that does not contribute to progress. That is why I note that the Turkish Cypriot leader’s interview is particularly revealing, because it shows why the talks have not resumed—one of the main reasons they have not yet resumed.”
When asked to comment on a statement by Mr. Erhurman that he had not received the 19 points—proposals from the Greek Cypriot side—in writing from the President of the Republic, President Christodoulides said, “I never said that the proposals were submitted in writing. They were submitted verbally; he is aware of the 19 very specific proposals—on some he has taken a position, on others he has not yet taken a position. The National Council is very well aware of the 19 proposals, and—I repeat—we discussed this last night as well, because that specific interview came up, and he told me, ‘Yes, I said that these issues were conveyed to me verbally; they were not provided in writing.”
In response to a journalist’s remark that Mr. Erhiuman said he was being accused of taking positions on the Varosia issue that were not true, the President of the Republic said that “I do not want to get involved in a blame game; I am not here for that, nor do I believe it helps in any way in the effort to resume talks. The issue—and I can say this publicly—of the besieged city of Varosha is among the very specific issues we have raised; it is among the issues we specifically discussed recently with the UN Secretary-General in New York, and it is one of the issues included in the letter I sent to the UN Secretary-General. I do not wish to say anything more; depending on how things develop, we will be here to state our position. But, I repeat, I truly believe that only the resumption of negotiations will demonstrate in practice who is truly committed to resolving the Cyprus issue—and I am referring to everyone; I am not referring only to the two communities; I am referring to the guarantor powers; I am referring to Turkey’s role.”
When asked if anything was said last night at Pyla between the two leaders, the President of the Republic said, “No, nothing negative was said; it was a social gathering. We were there to send a message of hope, a message about the need to work together to reunite our homeland. Meetings like this are important, and as I said last night when asked by your colleagues, they are important, but they are not enough to achieve the desired goal. But, yes, they do have their own added value.”
When asked about his position regarding Turkey’s stance on talks with no predetermined outcome, the President of the Republic said that “it all depends on where they start. If they start where they left off at Crans-Montana, we know very well what the points of disagreement are, what issues need to be discussed, and you can see that the time required will clearly be shorter. If some parties want to start from scratch, no one can predict how long that will take.”
