“If there is a refusal by the Turkish side to the invitation of the Secretary-General of the U.S for a tripartite meeting, this is a discredit of the Turkish Cypriot leader before the UN gg and our Turkish Cypriot compatriots”, its president emphasized Cypriot democracy, Nikos Christodoulidisafter the annual memorial service of Patriarch Makarios III at the Holy Monastery of Kykkos.
Asked to comment on Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar’s statements that there is no basis for a tripartite meeting and that he will not go to New York, Mr Christodoulidis replied: “I have not read Mr Tatar’s statements. As you tell me, if these statements are true, they are a sign of disrespect, especially towards our Turkish Cypriot compatriots, but at the same time towards the international community, the UN General Secretary himself, but also the EU. The Secretary General, the UN, requested this meeting. The one who seems to have a weak point in his positions, in the positions he presents, is Mr Tatar, who seems, from what you have told me, to be afraid even to discuss. In any case, we will see.”
Asked whether there was any basis for the tripartite arrangement, Christodoulidis said that “the GY decided precisely that this meeting should take place, which was aimed at paving the way for the resumption of negotiations. We have had very specific discussions for some time now. And with the Secretary-General, who I saw recently in Paris and we had discussed this specific meeting, but also with Ms. Holgin, the Secretary-General’s personal envoy, with the EU, and all of this led to the decision, as I announced last night, to be shot for a meeting with the GY and the Turkish Cypriot leader on August 13 in New York, precisely to discuss and pave the way for the resumption of talks.”
In response to a journalist’s remark that therefore no official invitation has been sent by the United Nations, the President of the Republic of Cyprus said that “of course it is a bolidoskop and the bolidoskop officially means a specific date, August 13, to be in New York, to meet, exactly for that. And to get there, a lot of preliminary work has been done.”
Asked whether there is a second plan, Mr Christodoulidis replied: “We will continue. For us, there is no second plan regarding the non-resolution of the Cyprus issue. Stagnation favours Mr Tatar and all those who do not want any progress on the Cyprus issue, any reunification of our homeland. For us, there is no plan B, other than the reunification of our homeland. Throughout this time, since the first day we took office, we have been working very specifically to achieve this goal. There are many problems, disappointments, difficulties, but we will not stop working towards this goal.”
When asked whether he himself would travel to New York for a meeting with the UN governor, even if there is no tripartite meeting, Mr. Christodoulidis noted that if he needs to go to New York tomorrow to meet with the Secretary-General, if he deems it necessary, he will do so. “I had the opportunity to exchange views with the GG in Paris and we also discussed the specific meeting that was scheduled. From here we will contact the UN to see the next steps. If the Director-General decides, I am ready to transfer tomorrow as well,” he noted.
To another question, if there are indications from Turkey that its attitude may change, Mr. Christodoulidis stressed that he cannot speak on behalf of Turkey and does not want to say anything about its attitude. “We have a statement, as you conveyed to me, that is the essence. From now on, what Turkey will do to Mr. Tatar or to the UN, to the Secretary-General, I cannot know and I do not want to speak on behalf of Turkey,” he said.
Asked to comment on Giorgos Gerapetritis’ statements regarding new information, the President of the Republic of Cyprus said that the Greek Foreign Minister was referring to the Turkish position and added: “We speak daily with Mr. Gerapetritis and with the Greek Prime Minister, both myself and the Foreign Minister. This effort – more specifically for the meeting on August 13 – is done in collaboration with the Greek government, with the Greek Prime Minister, with the Greek Foreign Minister, something we have been working for a long time to achieve.
Let me remind you that the Greek Prime Minister saw in the US the UN General Assembly, they discussed about this particular meeting, about what was the purpose, how the UN will move, within what framework, the procedure everything, so that this meeting could take place and it took place within this framework and the survey.”
He also said, when asked about this, that “there is absolutely no difference of opinion or different approaches with the Greek government.”
Asked finally to answer whether the statement about the lack of political courage concerned Turkey, Mr. Christodoulidis noted: “Of course it concerns the Turkish side and not us. We have proven this in practice. All 14 unilateral measures of the Republic of Cyprus towards our Turkish Cypriot compatriots and the important messages with the participation of the Republic of Cyprus in the April European Council and our constant readiness, whether for an informal one-on-one meeting with Mr. Tatar or at the level of the negotiators or the informal five-party conference, in all these we see a negative Turkish attitude towards us.
But I am not here to engage in a blame game, this is not in our favor – and I want to be clear – even if the lack of progress is on the Turkish side.
It is our homeland under occupation and we will continue and do everything possible to achieve the goal of reunification.”
Source: RES-MPE
