Remarks by the President of the Republic on the Cyprus Problem
In off-the-cuff remarks to reporters yesterday evening, as he was entering the venue where the Cyprus Workers Confederation (SEK) Conference was taking place, the President of the Republic, when asked whether the United Nations “set a trap” for the Republic of Cyprus in view of all that happened in Istanbul, said: “I don’t think it is a matter of a trap. It is a matter of mishandlings which, however, will not be tolerated. I don’t accept for the Republic of Cyprus to be downgraded in any way.
The intercommunal dialogue between the two communities is one thing, and the state of the Republic of Cyprus that is internationally recognized, is another.
I had the opportunity, just a little while ago, to speak with the Vice President of the USA, Mr Joe Biden, to discuss at length, because he was informed about all that happened, and I want to believe that some action will be undertaken, so that analogous or similar phenomena are avoided.”
Asked if the involvement of the UN Secretary General’s Special Adviser on Cyprus, Mr Eide, in the events as they have unfolded, was direct, the President of the Republic said “I don’t want to make further comments.”
Asked whether there is an issue raised for the Republic of Cyprus to ask for the withdrawal of Mr Eide, President Anastasiades said “allow me to hold on to what I have said.”
Later on, in his address at the SEK Conference, the President of the Republic said, inter alia, during his reference to the Cyprus problem, that “never, but never before, do I think there was another such good opportunity, as long as we all make use of it with mutual respect.”
Consequently, what I want, and it is a message that I am sending in particular also to those from the United Nations that are involved, is to realize that indeed seriousness is required for such a big issue, one of the longest lasting problems faced by the world community, and it is to the benefit also of the United Nations, and Turkey, and Greece, and the Greek Cypriots, and the Turkish Cypriots, and of the region, if at last we manage to create a model of peaceful coexistence between Christians and Muslims.”
The President also pointed out that “I want to hope that in the next days or in the next efforts there will be seriousness on everyone’s part and there will be a response to what I said: respect for the Republic of Cyprus and an intense effort so that through the evolution into a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation, to create the prospects for peaceful coexistence, for creative coexistence in the future for both the Greek Cypriots and the Turkish Cypriots.”
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