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The Government Spokesman Mr Stefanos Stefanou made the following statement yesterday, during his press briefing at the Presidential Palace: “The 'election' of Mr Eroglu at the illegal elections is a bad development. Taking into consideration Mr Eroglu’s long-lasting, declared positions against the federation and for the establishment of two independent states in Cyprus, this could cause very serious problems to the negotiations themselves. We remain committed to the basis of the solution to the Cyprus problem, as agreed under the auspices of the UN Secretary General, with the former leader and negotiator of the Turkish Cypriot community Mr Mehmet Ali Talat. The basis of the solution is a bizonal, bicommunal federation with political equality, as defined in the relevant UN resolutions, for one state, with single and undivided sovereignty, a single citizenship and a single international personality. This basis has been adopted by the UN Security Council and is included in numerous resolutions of the International Organization. We expect the United Nations and the European Union to reconfirm their support for the basis of the solution of the Cyprus problem, but also the means through which we will achieve an agreed solution of the internal aspects of the Cyprus problem, namely the intercommunal talks. We expect the international community to exert its influence and preferably its pressure on the new leader of the Turkish Cypriot community to continue the negotiations on the correct basis. We also expect the international community to exert pressure on Turkey to respect the UN resolutions and the EU decisions on Cyprus. Faced with the new facts, the political leadership needs to show patience, self-control and responsibility, in view also of the meeting of the National Council in which all the issues will be discussed in the light of the change in the Turkish Cypriot leadership. The aim is to examine collectively how the negotiations can proceed on the correct basis for the achievement of a mutually acceptable solution that will terminate the occupation and colonization and reunite the territory, the people, the institutions and the economy. We will continue working for this solution with a constructive spirit and with consistency in principles. The President of the Republic of Cyprus will send a letter, today, to the UN Secretary General. Letters will also be sent to the five permanent members of the Security Council, to the President s of the European Commission and the European Council Messrs Barroso and Rompuy, as well as to our 26 EU partners, regarding the new developments. Also the President of the Republic has already arranged a meeting, next Wednesday afternoon, with the Ambassadors to Cyprus of the five Permanent Members of the Security Council”. - 20.04.2010
