The President of the Republic, Mr Nicos
Anastasiades, presided today over a meeting of the Council of the Political
Party Leaders, at the Presidential Palace.
After the meeting, the Government
Spokesman, Mr Christos Stylianides, told the press that at the meeting, the
President gave a full and comprehensive briefing on the latest consultations
around the issue of the joint declaration with regard to the efforts for the
resumption of the talks on the Cyprus problem.
Asked if a draft proposal by the United
Nations was submitted at today’s meeting, the Spokesman said that there were
more than one documents presented, but not from the UN, and that the Leaders
were fully informed on the details of certain documents which are under
discussion. He added that there is nothing final yet, “nothing that cannot be
altered even at the last moment.”
The Government Spokesman added that when
it comes to the Cyprus problem we have learned from experience that “you can be
very close and at the same time too far from reaching an agreement. Even one
word can change a lot.”
Replying to a comment that political party
leaders have stated that the Turkish Cypriot side’s position remain the same,
Mr Stylianides said that “we cannot refer to a dead-end when we are still
waiting for developments.”
Asked about a proposal put forward by the
Greek Cypriot side and on which it is waiting the response of the Turkish
Cypriot side, the Spokesman said that “these days, very intensive consultations
are taking place. The international community assists the entire process of
consultations in various ways. On the other hand, we do not have a conclusion
yet. And from the moment we do not have a conclusion yet, all these,
consultations and documents, are at a preliminary stage and basis.”
Invited to comment on reports by Turkish
sources that the two sides are close to 95% in reaching an agreement on the
joint declaration, the Spokesman said that “when it comes to the Cyprus problem
one could be at 99% but one word could stop an agreement from being reached,”
and added that “we should wait for the developments in the coming days.”
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