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.”
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