"If there is genuine political will, we can make history regarding the Cyprus issue," said the President of the Republic, Mr. Nikos Christodoulides, today.
Speaking to reporters as he left the Presidential Palace to head to the venue for his meeting with Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman, and when asked to comment on remarks by the leader of the Turkish Cypriot community that it would not be so easy to write history together given the cancellations of events in the occupied areas, the President of the Republic said, “If there is genuine political will—and I believe this, and I repeat it—we can make history. And I am going into this meeting with that mindset.
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
If there is no political will, obviously many other things will be said.
As for the cancellations in the occupied areas—which is not something that has happened for the first time—as long as this illegal state of affairs persists, we will see such developments, which are perfectly normal.
We are here—I am here—to speak for myself and not for the Turkish Cypriot leader, to overturn this illegal state of affairs and reunite our country. And I truly believe, despite the difficulties, the problems, and the challenges, that if there is political will, yes, we can make history.”
Read also: Erhurman to Christodoulides: “Making history together is anything but easy”
When asked if this was the response he had expected from Mr. Erhurman, the President of the Republic said, “I expected a more positive message in what I view as a positive interview that sent positive messages to our Turkish Cypriot compatriots. And my message to our Turkish Cypriot compatriots, as well as to our Turkish Cypriot friend and leader, is that if the current state of affairs persists, those who stand to lose are the Greek Cypriots and theTurkish Cypriots—it is the Cypriot people. I truly believe this; it is not just a slogan to make an impression—I genuinely believe it—and I am here to do whatever is necessary on my part so that the future of this country, the future of the Cypriot people—Greek Cypriots, Turkish Cypriots, Maronites, Armenians, and Latins—is clearly better.”
When asked whether he considered it a setback that Ms. Olgin canceled her trip to New York due to illness, the President of the Republic replied, “No. It’s not a positive development, but you understand that it’s for medical reasons, so we must show understanding.”
In response to a reporter’s remark that the new U.S. Ambassador, with whom he had an initial meeting, presented his credentials today, the President of the Republic said that “To put it in four words, as we discussed with the new U.S. Ambassador—whom I will also see next week for a formal meeting— today’s meeting took place as part of the presentation of his credentials, and ‘the sky is the limit’ when it comes to relations between the U.S. and the Republic of Cyprus.”
