The creation of two states and sovereign equality have no position in efforts to solve the Cyprus problem, said on Friday President of the Republic, Nicos Anastasiades.
The President was invited by journalists at Psematismeno village to comment remarks by Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu that it is a waste of time to consider a federal solution and President Tayip Erdogan’s threats to intervene as Turkish ships are ready.
“I am sincerely saddened by the behaviour and attitude (of Turkey) that is not extraordinary. It is well known during the course of the negotiations for a Cyprus settlement, that the fact that there has not been a solution is not due to the lack of will on the Greek Cypriot side but because of the Turkish intransigence”, said President Anastasiades.
He said that on Thursday Turkey confirmed in the loudest possible manner, its steadfast position on Cyprus, that was decided since the creation of the Republic. He urged political parties on the island to stop dictating that we should accept without negotiations, positions that will become fait accompli without taking anything back in return.
We are aiming to avert the unacceptable positions expressed by the Turkish President, his Foreign Minister and the Turkish Cypriot leader. “The creation of two states has no position, sovereign equality has no position because it calls for sovereignty to exist”, he remarked.
Our pursuit is to find a solution through the UN parameters”, the President said, noting that significant work and convergences have been achieved and therefore based on the UN Secretary General’s letters, “we are going to Geneva with the positions outlined by the UN, the Security Council, the EU and all states, to find a solution that will evolve the Republic of Cyprus to a bicommunal, federal state and most of all be functional, will not be a Turkish protectorate and will secure the rights of all Cypriots, either Greek Cypriots or Turkish Cypriots”.
The President further said that we have never considered to dominate what has already been discussed, political equality between two entities, but also political equality as interpreted by resolution 716 of the Security Council which does not necessarily require a positive vote for all decisions.
He repeated that he accepts “the positive vote, if and only any proposal at the cabinet does not harm the interests of the Turkish Cypriot community”. They should have the right for their protection and this is what expresses political equality and the protection of political equality, provided of course, there is an effective mechanism to resolve disputes, the President added.
President Anastasiades said he is too concerned about Turkey’s expressed intentions which are gradually implemented.
Asked if the timing is wrong to hold the forthcoming informal conference at Geneva because of Turkey’s comments recently, President Anastasiades said that the conference has been scheduled after more than three years of efforts to resume the dialogue and for the SG to decide if he should make a new effort to find common ground.
Therefore, he added, I do not consider the timing suitable or unsuitable. It came after negotiations, deliberations, following the failure of so many efforts when our side maintained a positive attitude. Those who were reacting were Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot side, he added.
Asked to comment on the meeting in Paphos by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Cyprus, Greece, Israel and the United Arab Emirates, President Anastasiades said that Cyprus is a factor of stability, peace and it is clear to everyone, thus the Turkish reactions, that we have developed close, friendly relations with other neighbouring states and also Arab Gulf states.
We are trying with every way possible, the President added, to nurture a feeling of security that needs to prevail not only in the Eastern Mediterranean but also in the Mediterranean. “We are trying to contribute to peace, we are not excluding anyone, we want to convey the message to Turkey that it can participate as long as it respects international law…”, the President concluded.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results. The UN Secretary-General invited all parties involved to attend an informal five-plus-one meeting on the Cyprus issue in Geneva, Switzerland, from 27 to 29 April 2021.