The Government Spokesman Mr Stefanos Stefanou described
on Friday the statements by the Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat on the
Annan Plan, on the stay of the settlers and that he does not accept a
negotiation on the withdrawal of the occupation troops as unproductive and
unconstructive, adding that "what is being said by the Security Council of
Turkey or is being repeated by the Turkish Cypriot leadership and by Mr Talat
does not lead to an optimism that the process which has begun at the level of
the working groups and technical committees will produce results that will allow
us to proceed to fully-fledged negotiations on the Cyprus issue". "In any case,
we are working with calmness, patience and consistence and we will continue to
work for the success of the process, with clear positions regarding the solution
of the Cyprus problem. A solution that will put an end to the occupation and
colonization and will reunite Cyprus in a bizonal, bicommunal federation, in the
framework of which there will be political equality as described in the relevant
United Nations resolutions. We seek and struggle for a solution that will
safeguard the human rights and the fundamental freedoms of all the people" he
said, and added: "I would like to note that the positions of the Greek Cypriot
side are based on positions agreed by the two communities. The bizonal,
bicommunal federation has been agreed since 1977, it was reaffirmed in 1979 - I
refer to the two High level Agreements – it was reaffirmed again in the
Agreement of 8 July 2006 and on this agreement we insist. Let me also say that
there are a series of issues, which concern the basis and the framework of the
solution of the Cyprus problem, are included in the UN resolutions on Cyprus.
They are I repeat, agreed positions, adopted positions by the international
community and on these positions we seek a solution to the Cyprus problem. If
some people seek a solution outside these positions and sometimes even beyond
the Annan Plan, as is the position for a solution of two states and of a "virgin
birth" of a state, they do not assist at all the process to move forward".
