Yesterday’s meeting of the President of the Republic with the Turkish Cypriot Leader Mr Mehmet Ali Talat, in the framework of the direct negotiations for the solution of the Cyprus problem that are taking place at the residence of the UN Secretary General’s Special Representative in Cyprus, focused on European issues.
On his return to the Presidential Palace President Christofias told the press: “with Mr Talat we talked about various issues regarding the present and the future of the country as well as in relation to issues we have already discussed. We focused more on the European issues, but we also discussed issues that are still open, such as issues concerning governance. There is nothing to announce”.
In response to a remark that the United Nations are talking about new convergences, President Christofias said: “we are achieving something, we do not waste our time and if and when it is possible to announce something, we will announce it.”
Replying to a question on whether a joint statement will be issued by the two leaders President Christofias said that he will discuss the possibility of issuing a joint statement with Mr Talat at their next meeting.
Invited to say if he would prefer a quicker pace of talks, the President said: “We are trying to accelerate the pace of the talks, but as you can understand we do not have many meetings left until the so-called elections, therefore we expect to continue after the so called elections”.
Asked if the next meeting will be the last one before the so called elections or if there will be another meeting in the meantime, President Christofias relied: “I cannot say; in our program it is the last one. If there is any request, I am ready to discuss it.”
Finally, invited to clarify what he meant when he said that with Mr Talat they discussed the future of the country, the President of the Republic said: “more generally, of course. What I mean is whether we will be able to continue our discussions after the so-called elections on the basis we have already agreed and announced, namely a solution of bizonal, bicommunal federation with political equality, for a single state with a single sovereignty, a single citizenship and a single international personality”.
