Defence Minister Photis Photiou has said that the Greek Cypriot side does not wish to use the process aiming to reach a Cyprus settlement in order to play the blame game.
He added however that “we must inform the international community and our EU partners about our views and what is going on, so that the appropriate pressure is exerted on Ankara which has a key role in developments on the Cyprus problem.”
Photiou reiterated that the Greek Cypriot side will not proceed to the negotiating table just for the sake of having negotiations, especially when there is still disagreement on the core issue of sovereignty.
The Minister noted the long-standing Turkish intransigence and its devastating effects to efforts for a constructive dialogue on the Cyprus problem, and stressed that any moves and actions serving expediencies do not serve either side.
We are focused to the conclusion of a mutually accepted agreement that will allow the co-existence of our people, he noted, adding that the human rights of all Cypriots must be safeguarded.
Photiou underlined that any deadlock to the negotiating process will not be to the benefit of either side, and stressed that the reunification of the country must benefit people and must be supported by the people, while it must also safeguard the international law, the UN resolutions and the EU principles.
Furthermore he underlined the stability role of Cyprus in the Eastern Mediterranean region, noting that Cyprus does not only ask for the active involvement of the international community in efforts to convince Turkey to change its intransigent stance on Cyprus, but also actively contributes to securing peace.
Efforts are underway with a view to achieve an agreement between the two communities on a joint communiqué that will pave the way for the resumption of UN-led negotiations on the problem of Cyprus, divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37% of the island’s territory