8/1/14

The President of the Republic presided over a meeting of the National Council





The President of the Republic, Mr Nicos Anastasiades, presided today over a meeting of the National Council, which discussed the developments on the efforts to reach a joint communiqué between the two communities in Cyprus, and the issue regarding the applications by Greek Cypriot property owners to the immovable property commission in the occupied areas.




Following the meeting of the National Council, the Government Spokesman, Mr Christos Stylianides, said that the President briefed the members of the National Council in detail with regard to the developments that took place since the last Council meeting and focused on the rejection by the Turkish Cypriot side of the Greek Cypriot proposal regarding the joint communiqué.

He added that the President informed the National Council that after the rejection by the Turkish Cypriot side, he sent a letter to the UN Secretary General on 2 January, in which he refers to what has taken place and to the position of our side with regard to the prospect for the resumption of a substantive dialogue.

The Spokesman added that a new meeting of the National Council has been set for 24 January in order to discuss the next steps of the Greek Cypriot side.

Mr Stylianides also said that during today’s meeting suggestions, proposals and measures were submitted by the relevant subcommittee of the National Council on issues pertaining to the prevention of Greek Cypriots resorting to the immovable property commission set in the occupied areas.
He said that “this is a complex matter which entails legal issues.” He added that at the meeting of 24 January the issue will again be discussed and possibly final decisions and measures will be taken.

Replying to a question on the letter sent by the President to the UN Secretary General, the Spokesman said that it has been communicated to the 15 member states of the Security Council, and within the next few days it will also be communicated to the President of the European Commission, the President of the European Council and the President of the European Parliament.

Replying to another question, the Spokesman said: “We insist that there is no deadlock with regard to the Cyprus problem. We will persist and we will not accept to take any blame under any circumstances. That is why we are sending the message to everyone that, indeed, we will insist on the resumption of a substantive dialogue. We will always be ready to get to these substantive talks. This is the basic position of the Government and we will insist and we believe that the Greek Cypriot side is doing everything in its power to reach that end.”

Asked if the UN Secretary General’s Special Adviser on Cyprus, Mr Alexander Downer, who will arrive in Cyprus on 12 January, is expected to launch any initiative, the Spokesman said that we have no information with regard to an initiative, and added that the Greek Cypriot side insists that there is a possibility for the resumption of a substantive dialogue with the aim to have a prospect for conclusion. “For us, the solution to the Cyprus problem is the basis of the political philosophy of this Government. That is why we do not accept the attribution of any blame to our side when we have demonstrated that we do our utmost in order for a substantive dialogue to commence.”

Invited to comment on information that the UN Secretary General might call a meeting in New York with the leaders of the two communities, the Spokesman said that “for us, the aim is the resumption of the dialogue, as long as, in any format or procedure for the resumption of the dialogue, the basis for a solution and the possibility for a substantive dialogue with a prospect for a successful conclusion is clear.”

Asked if our side expects Mr Downer to exert pressure to the two sides and especially to the Greek Cypriot side, the Government Spokesman said that “we do not accept that there is any such pressure. On the basis of the institutionalized UN mission of good offices and especially the Special Adviser’s, there is no issue of pressures being applied. There are consultations with the help of the UN, in order to enter into a substantive dialogue where the prospect for conclusion and the known basis for a solution will be clear.”
--------------------------