AK: The UN Spokesman Mr. Aleem Siddique said this.
Because the government and the Greek Cypriot negotiator Mr. Mavroyiannis and the Government Spokesman have stated otherwise.
AK: You know, Mr. Siddique yesterday in his statement said that a request was submitted and was accepted, and that the Greek Cypriot side was briefed on all the developments. Mr. Siddique’s statement is quite clear.
Foreign Minister Mr. Kasoulides admitted yesterday that he knew since October, or November he said, he doesn’t remember exactly when this thing would happen. Why didn’t they put forth a demand or make a representation to the United Nations? Mr. Mavroyiannis fifteen days ago met the United Nations Under-Secretary General for Political Affairs Mr. Jeffrey Feltman. Why didn’t he say anything about this specific issue?
Mr. Siddique’s statement was very clear. Let them come and state that the UN are lying. Why don’t they say this if they think they are correct in what they say? In any case, DISY Press Spokesman Mr. Prodromos told us last week that the UN Secretary-General is lying about the Crans Montana talks. Is this the government’s position towards the UN Secretary-General Mr. Guterres? Let them come out to tell the Cypriot people sincerely if this is their position.
In your view, is it clear that our side’s opinion was really needed to withdraw the map?
There is no such need, but here’s the bizarre thing. It definitely isn’t needed. When we withdrew our positions, did we require the approval of the Turkish Cypriot side?
Because the map is a different issue…
I don’t think our own consent was required. It’s their own proposals, they have the right to do what they want. From then onwards I repeat. For us, the important thing is that the government knew, did not tell us anything, and if we didn’t go public with the issue we wouldn’t know anything. On the contrary,
Mr. Anastasiades during the TV debate presented as a feat that a map was submitted on the territorial issue and that there was a convergence in two of the three criteria. He presented it as an achievement at the same time as he knew that maps no longer existed. The things they are saying are a mockery for the Cypriot people.
Replies of the General Secretary of AKEL Andros Kyprianou to journalists’ questions
2nd February 2018, Nicosia