The 6th Bi-communal Peace Festival is taking place in Pyla, with the President of the Republic and the Turkish Cypriot leader attending the event, in a joint appearance agreed upon during their last meeting.
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In remarks to reporters as he arrived tonight at the Bi-communal Peace Festival in Pyla, and when asked to comment on his presence there and the messages it conveys, the President of the Republic said, “I responded positively from the very moment I received the invitation from my friend, the Community Leader.
We are sending a message of peace, a message of coexistence, a message about the need, at long last, to reunite our homeland. And I repeat what I said in a recent interview with the Turkish Cypriot press: if it were up to the Greek Cypriots and the Turkish Cypriots, our homeland would certainly be reunited. But this does not absolve us of our own responsibilities; that is why I am here—to send a strong message so that we can work together to reunify our homeland.
For us—and I say this in the fullest sense of the word—there is no other option but the reunification of our homeland.”
When asked whether such meetings are sufficient to achieve progress, the President of the Republic said that “they are not enough, but they are important. It is an important step, and I would like to commend the initiative to hold this meeting and the invitation. It is an important step, but they are not enough on their own. What can certainly unlock the entire effort and lead to a positive outcome is political will. Everything depends on that.”
When asked whether meetings between the leaders of the two communities at festivals and events would become a regular occurrence, the President of the Republic said, “We are in favor of making this a regular occurrence; that is why I am here. If my memory serves me correctly, this is the sixth Festival; it is significant that it is taking place again after a six-year hiatus—it is an institution that we believe must continue.”
When asked to comment on Ms. Olgin’s statements that the two sides are still far from reaching an agreement—since not even a roadblock has been lifted yet—the President of the Republic said that “Ms. Olgin very recently sent me a lengthy email, and of course I replied to her message with a detailed response. Beyond that—and more importantly—following the National Council meeting, I have recently written to the UN Secretary-General, setting forth very specific ideas following the discussion we had in New York—ideas concerning the methodology, the substance, and confidence-building measures, so that the entire process can move forward.
And I hope that in the meeting I will have with the Turkish Cypriot leader this coming week, there will be progress in that direction. It would be ideal, and a positive development, if Ms. Olgin had also been present at the many meetings I’ve had with the Turkish Cypriot leader, so that she could form her own understanding of all the issues discussed.”
When asked what Ms. Olgin’s message entailed, the President of the Republic said, “Some ideas, including those that have been made public. But if you want me to speak specifically about the roadblock—because it is important to open a roadblock— Ms. Olgin was present at the dinner with the UN Secretary-General when the UN Secretary-General made a very specific proposal, which he described as a reasonable compromise. Ms. Olgin knows very well who immediately said yes, who immediately said no, and with whom she had a rather heated discussion regarding his response.”
