The indications with regard to the confidence building measures are
good with the international community appearing to understand the positions of
the President of the Republic, the Government Spokesman Mr Christos Stylianides
said today in Limassol where he received the salute of the parade on the
occasion of the Independence Day of Greece.
In his remarks to the press, after the Doxology at the Holy Church of
Ayia Napa in Limassol in celebration of the National Anniversary of the 25
th March 1821 (Greek Independence Day), responding to a question the
Spokesman said that the Cypriot economy has been "normalized and stabilized,”
adding that the indications from the evaluations that are taking place with
regard to the economy are good. He also said that international credit rating
agencies send us the message that we are on a good track.
Asked what he expects to come out from the upcoming meeting between
the President of the Republic and the leader of the Turkish Cypriot community,
and invited to comment on statements made by the Turkish Cypriot interlocutor,
the Spokesman said that "the Government’s position has been clear from the
outset. We don't intend to be negotiating publicly."
With regard to the upcoming meeting, he said that there will be a
review on where we are presently with regard to the views that have been
submitted.
He added that “we are still at the beginning and to those who believe
that a solution of the Cyprus problem is ready, I say that not only is not ready
but it takes a lot of hard negotiation,” and it takes “alliances and persistence
on basic principles and values of the EU. And it is in this way that we can
precisely bring the notion of the European philosophy and the European acquis
communautaire into the negotiation, so that it can serve the philosophy of the
solution itself.”
He also said that with the upgrading of the role of the EU "this will
be confirmed on a daily basis and will influence the negotiation itself
influence the negotiation itself in every way."
The Spokesman pointed out that we need to give a new impetus to the
negotiations, explaining that substantive and bold confidence building measures
will give that impetus. “We insist and it has already been accepted by the
international community, that the issue of Famagusta is one of the issues that
will create the impetus in the negotiations, it will change the atmosphere,
and it will at last create an atmosphere of trust".
“It appears that the indications are good on this issue. It appears
that the international community understands this basic position of the
President of the Republic and I hope that we will have tangible and specific
results in that direction at the earliest possible,” he concluded.
