President of the Republic Demetris Christofias has said that the Greek Cypriot side continues to promote a proposal for the simultaneous opening of the fenced off part of Famagusta city under UN administration and the opening of Famagusta port under the aegis of the EU as a reply to information as regards Turkey’s “plan B” to unilaterally open the fenced off part of the city under Turkish Cypriot administration.
Addressing the opening of the new Famagusta Cooperative Bank in Larnaca on Monday evening President Christofias reiterated that a unilateral opening of the fenced off part of Famagusta under Turkish Cypriot administration would in essence be adventurist on the part of the occupying force, underlying that an acceptance of the Greek Cypriot sides’ proposals could lead to a number of Turkey’s EU accession chapters being ‘unfrozen’, which would significantly boost Turkey’s accession course.
He further recalled that the Greek Cypriot side’s proposal for Famagusta is based on UN Security Council Resolution 550 and reiterated that it could create a new hopeful prospective for the Cyprus issue to the benefit of all sides.
President Christofias stressed that any arrangement over Famagusta, in case of non achievement of a solution for the Cyprus issue, ought precisely to be based on UN SC Resolutions, to be implementing them and to serve efforts for a solution, to serve the interests of all sides and of course the interest of the residents of Famagusta.
Referring to cooperative banking President Christofias said that the government considers it a strategic ally in the effort to shape a just society and to create better living conditions for citizens.
The cooperative movement has always been a progressive movement which has been very successful in the whole of Cyprus mainly due to the direct benefits it gave to poor people during difficult times.
As regards the economy, President Christofias said the government is steadily moving forward, keeping everyday people in its thoughts and having as ultimate goal growth and to guide the Cypriot economy through the storm to calm waters.
“We should not forget that much greater economies than our own have been close to be shipwrecked”, he noted, recalling that the government has taken decisive measures for fiscal consolidation in the context of a wider political consensus.
Referring to the problems Cypriot banks face due to their exposure to Greek government bonds and Greek loans President Christofias said that the government is promoting specific actions via its contacts on a European level to moderate negative consequences.
He added that the Cypriot economy’s problems and the fact that it has been downgraded by international credit agencies are mainly due to the problems faced by Cypriot banks.
“We are trying our best to face these difficult and complicated problems for the good of the Cypriot economy, of Cyprus and of our people”, he said.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey invaded the island and occupied its northern third. UN led talks have been underway with a view to reunite the island under a federal roof