President Christofias: A solution to the Cyprus problem by
Cypriots, for Cypriots
The Government's policy on the Cyprus problem consists
of initiatives towards the international community to influence Turkey to modify
its stance in order to enable the achievement of a settlement, the President of
the Republic of Cyprus Mr Demetris Christofias said, adding that "our policy
aims to encourage the two communities in Cyprus to undertake the initiative and
work together, in order to achieve a solution that would benefit the people of
Cyprus". "A solution that would be agreed by Cypriots, for Cypriots", he
emphasized.
Speaking yesterday at an event
to mark International Workers' Day, organised by the Pancyprian Workers'
Federation (PEO), President Christofias said the solution of the Cyprus problem
should foresee the termination of occupation and Turkish settling, reunify the
territory, people, institutions and economy, and safeguard the human rights and
basic freedoms of the entire Cyprus people.
Referring to the stance of the Turkish side, he said unfortunately, the
messages coming from that side were not encouraging. The Turkish National
Security Council and Mr Talat continue to support that the solution should
culminate into two, separate and politically equal states, Mr Christofias
asserted, noting that these positions went even beyond those of the Annan plan,
which was rejected by the large majority of Greek Cypriots.
The President also noted the following: "They insist that the
Annan plan is the basis for negotiation. The repetition of these positions both
by the Turkish National Security Council and by Mr Talat is regretful and cause
concern. Mr Talat has the right to put elements of the Annan plan on the table.
At the same time though, the Greek Cypriot side has the right to also put on the
negotiating table its own positions and views on substantive aspects of the
Cyprus issue.
We remain consistent to the
solution of a bizonal, bicommunal federation and we repeat that the negotiations
should be based on the High-Level Agreements of 1977 and 1979, the UN-brokered
agreements of 8 July 2006 and 21 March 2008, the relevant UN Security Council
resolutions, international law and European law."
