Remarks by the Government Spokesman on the Cyprus problem
There is absolute readiness and political will on the
part of the President of the Republic, Mr Nicos Anastasiades, with regard to the
solution of the Cyprus problem, the Government Spokesman, Mr Nikos
Christodoulides, said today.
In his remarks to reporters in Pafos, the Spokesman said
that the leaders of the two communities have asked the interlocutors to prepare
a unified list with low profile confidence building measures, which will be set
before the leaders, who have the
exclusive competency to decide which ones to adopt and which ones not to.
He added that at the next meeting of the leaders, on 29
May, this particular issue will also be discussed.
In response to a question, the Spokesman said that “the
substantive negotiation on aspects of the Cyprus problem is expected to begin
with the next meeting of the leaders on 29 May. We hope that through a sincere
and substantive dialogue, with the contribution of all the involved parties,
those conditions that will allow us to be optimistic about a positive outcome
could be created.”
Responding to another question, the Spokesman said that
over the years, the leader of the Turkish Cypriot community, Mr Mustafa Akinci,
“through his public statements and pronouncements, spoke about the need for
reunification of our homeland and termination of the occupation. We hope that
these statements, along with the active involvement of Turkey –something that is
an indispensable ingredient-, those conditions that will allow us to be
optimistic will be created.”
The Spokesman further noted that “I can speak for our
side. There is absolute readiness and political will on the part of the
President of the Republic and we are awaiting the beginning of the substantive
dialogue at the next meeting between the President of the Republic and Mr
Akinci, in order to see how the whole process moves forward.”
