Statements by the Government Spokesman after yesterday’s meeting of the National Council
The President of the Republic Mr Demetris Christofias presided yesterday over a meeting of the National Council at the presidential Palace.
After the meeting, the Government Spokesman Mr Stefanos Stefanou made the following statement to the press:
“At the meeting of the National Council, a detailed discussion and in-depth dialogue took place and the political parties expressed their positions and views on all issues of the Cyprus problem. We express our deep regret because, after six days of meetings, it was not possible to issue a joint communiqué even regarding the principles of the solution of the Cyprus problem, as included in the statement of last September. One of the issues discussed at the National Council was the direct trade regulation. We have reaffirmed the decision of the Republic of Cyprus to defend itself with all political and legal means available, with the aim to block the regulation on direct trade, in the framework of the efforts made by the Presidency of the Republic. The Presidency of the Republic, in cooperation with the political parties, will promote our proposal for the return of the city of Famagusta to the United Nations and the commencement of trade in the framework of legality and under the auspices of the European Union”.
Asked how the President of the Republic will handle the issue of the absence of a joint statement by the National Council, especially in view of the resumption of the talks, Mr Stefanou said that the position is clear as expressed also in the letter that the President of the Republic sent to the UN Secretary-General. “We will proceed with the talks, we want the resumption of the talks on the same basis as agreed between the leaders of the two communities, in the framework of the same process and from the point they were suspended. This is how we will continue, always, with the aim to achieve a solution to the Cyprus problem”, he said.
