The government has welcomed efforts by the UN top envoy on Cyprus to resume the peace talks, suspended by the President of the Republic in response to Turkish violations of Cyprus’ exclusive economic zone, reiterating at the same time that efforts must be directed towards Ankara.
“We welcome the effort of the UN Secretary General’s Special Adviser on Cyprus for the resumption of the talks which, however, in order to succeed must be directed toward the side which has led matters to the current situation, in other words the Turkish Government,” Government Spokesman Nikos Christodoulides said on Thursday evening, after a two-hour long meeting between the President Nicos Anastasiades and Espen Barth Eide.
During the meeting, he said, “there was a discussion about the Turkish illegal actions in the Exclusive Economic Zone of the Republic of Cyprus, which led to the suspension of the negotiations. A number of ideas were discussed, there is nothing to be announced, there is no conclusion on anything.”
The Spokesman expressed hope that Eide’s effort will have positive results, meaning the termination of Turkey’s illegal actions to enable the talks to resume.
Replying to a question, he stressed that “the hydrocarbons issue certainly cannot be discussed at the negotiating table. This is a very clear position that the President of the Republic conveyed as well. There are ways to return to the negotiations and this is the termination of the Turkish illegal actions.”
Eide, Christodoulides said answering another question, is working to secure the termination of the violation of the sovereign rights of a member state of the UN and the EU.
Asked whether the hydrocarbons issue can be discussed on the sidelines of the talks instead of the negotiating table, the Spokesman was adamant the matter cannot be discussed at the talks before the Cyprus problem is resolved.
The hydrocarbons issue, he explained, is the responsibility of the central government and in this respect, after the solution of the Cyprus problem the lawful citizens of Cyprus will reap the benefits of exploration and exploitation of the island’s reserves.
The Spokesman would not elaborate on the discussion during the meeting between the President and Eide, but noted that “There is no conclusion.”
Asked if Eide clarified his earlier statement that a solution must be found soon otherwise the Security Council could change its position, Christodoulides said that “we were briefed on the discussions he had both in Turkey and with the Turkish Cypriot leader,” pointing out that “we don’t have any briefing about a change in the position of the UN Security Council.”
“We are certain that the Security Council and the five Permanent Members, who are the trustees of the principles and values of the United Nations, understand – and they have demonstrated this through statements and announcements – the respect for the sovereignty, the sovereign rights of all the member states of the United Nations.”
Invited to say why Eide expresses optimism that the talks will resume, given that the positions of the two sides remain as they are, he said that “the new Special Adviser is working in that direction. We welcome his effort and we hope that it will have positive results. For this effort to succeed it must be directed toward the side that led the state of affairs to the current situation, and this side is the Turkish government through its violation of the sovereign rights of the Republic of Cyprus.”
