Government Spokesperson Konstantinos Letympiotis categorically rejects the claims made by Kudret Ozersay from the studio of the Alpha Kalimera program.

Mr. Letympiotis responds to Kudret Özersay, who claimed that President Christodoulides is seeking a “flash-in-the-pan” process with an eye toward the 2028 presidential elections. He emphasized that the initiative comes from the UN Secretary-General himself and is supported by the EU, a fact that refutes claims of “pre-election expediency.” He points out that the meeting between Mr. Christodoulides and Mr. Guterres took place last March, before the elections.

“Many people did not believe the President of the Republic at the time. And for President Christodoulides’ statement to be convincing—I regret to say this, but this is the reality— it had to become convincing after the repeated statements not only by Ms. Olgin but also by international media, which recognize this intention, this determination on the part of the United Nations Secretary-General—which we have not only welcomed from the very beginning, but we are also pleased that Mr. Guterres has personally taken on this initiative, but we are making every possible effort every day to ensure that, as I have said before, not even a glimmer of hope is lost. And we will continue to do so.”

He argued that the need to resolve the Cyprus issue is growing daily at a “geometric rate,” and that the government is seeking an informal multilateral process that will lead to the resumption of negotiations from the point where they were suspended, rather than negotiations “for the sake of negotiating.”

“We want to move toward an informal multilateral process, which will discuss the substance of the Cyprus issue and whose outcome will be the announcement of the resumption of negotiations from the point at which they were suspended. So, in a way that is clear and unambiguous, and very timely—and I remind you that President Christotoulides has been making efforts for three years now, and has often been characterized by certain media outlets as “persistent” in his insistence on the resumption of negotiations, but allow me to disagree in the strongest possible terms that the need to resolve the Cyprus problem has not increased. The need to resolve the Cyprus problem has increased dramatically today compared to yesterday, yesterday it had increased dramatically compared to the day before, and every day the need to resolve the Cyprus issue is growing exponentially—and we must understand this.”

“We are focused on the resumption of negotiations, which aims at a definitive resolution of the Cyprus problem,” he emphasized, recalling that President Christodoulides’s first political move was to seek and secure a meeting with the then-Turkish Cypriot leader to demonstrate exactly what course of actioncourse we should follow.

Christodoulides’ “Lessons” to Pheidias

First meeting of the National Council with “Alma” and “Direct Democracy,” with the Government Spokesperson noting that despite the absences of key figures, the discussion was constructive and focused on the substance of the matter.

“Obviously, there were absences of political forces—historic political forces that had been present in the National Council at critical moments in the Cyprus issue over the years. Political forces whose views and positions were absolutely useful and beneficial to the National Council. We have two new political forces, both of which were making their first appearance at the National Council. However, I must say, a constructive discussion, taking into account both the times we are living through and the initiatives being pursued by the Secretary-General himself. It was a constructive discussion, a discussion that focused on the substance of the positions.”

When asked whether the Presidency is bothered by the participation of “Direct Democracy” in the National Council, given its lack of positions on the Cyprus issue, Mr. Letympiotis replied:

“The political forces represented in Parliament. A political force that has been represented in Parliament has been elected by society; society has given it a vote of confidence. As a government, we have no choice but to respect the verdict of the Cypriot people. Beyond that, I believe that the most important issue—the paramount issue—in a partially occupied homeland is our national question. We find ourselves—as I have said, and as the President of the Republic has also stated before the National Council— but I believe that even the most skeptical now see the momentum that has built up recently, and we hope this will intensify even further. We have already reached the point where we hope these moments will prove to be decisive.”

He emphasizes that no window of opportunity will be left unexploited. 

“We must all be fully prepared to make important, critical decisions. This is especially true for those who serve on key bodies, whether it is the House of Representatives or the National Council.”

He notes that the President of the Republic provided clarifications and answered questions, particularly directed at “Direct Democracy,” regarding aspects of the Cyprus issue, as this was their first appearance before the body.

“The President of the Republic has briefed the entire National Council and the other political forces on what followed the previous National Council meeting, last March, Alma, and Direct Democracy. Direct Democracy, in particular, raised some broader questions regarding their first participation in the National Council—by “broader,” I mean regarding the Cyprus issue. Mr. Panayiotou himself has also spoken publicly following the conclusion of the National Council.”

Mr. Letympiotis also noted that President Christodoulides asked them to remain on standby in light of upcoming developments.

“The President of the Republic has asked them to remain in constant communication and to be on standby for the next meeting of the National Council, which will most likely take place after the first week of July, once the personal envoy of the United Nations Secretary-General returns to our country, precisely to assess, discuss, and exchange views on the results of her very important meetings—Ms. Olgin is currently in New York— but beyond that, and following this session of the National Council, political leaders must remain on standby because the Council may need to reconvene to make decisions in view of the multilateral talks.”