President Nikos Christodoulides has expressed his readiness and that of the Greek Cypriot side to participate immediately in an expanded conference on the Cyprus issue, characterising as ridiculous arguments about obstacles due to May’s Parliamentary Elections and Cyprus’s EU Council Presidency.
Speaking to journalists today after celebrations for Saint Maron in Nicosia, the president was asked what to expect in the coming period regarding the Cyprus issue in light of Erhürman’s statements about crossing points — specifically Agios Dometios — and the content of UN Secretary-General’s personal envoy Holguin’s article about the two leaders’ meetings.
Regarding the roadblocks and yesterday’s references, Christodoulides said the Republic of Cyprus was ready for the road widening a very long time ago, had done its own part, and there was delay within the dead zone. Cyprus had proposed to execute it themselves to avoid delays.
Unfortunately, there was a negative response from the Turkish Cypriot side, he said, referring mainly to the period when Tatar headed it, to put things as they are.
The president said he has not yet read Holguin’s article, but delivered a message to all directions — to Holguin, to the Turkish Cypriot community, to Turkey, to the international community.
He said he is ready next week to meet in an expanded conference, as promised to the Secretary-General in New York, and to announce the resumption of talks from where they left off at Crans-Montana with full respect for the negotiating acquis.
Let us all prove in practice that we are ready, the president said, adding that the sides should leave the statements aside.
He repeated publicly as a message to all directions that Cyprus is ready next week to go to New York and announce the resumption of negotiations from where they left off at Crans-Montana and with full respect for the negotiating acquis.
Neither the EU Council Presidency — which he mentioned even before 1 January — nor the May Parliamentary Elections affect matters in any way, Christodoulides said. He repeated that he is ready next week, adding that if there is will from both the Turkish and Turkish Cypriot side, they can move forward.
When a journalist noted that the UN considers holding a conference on the Cyprus issue impossible due to the EU Presidency and Parliamentary Elections, the president responded: But how do they make it impossible when I tell you I am ready next week?
It may be the UN perception — he has not read the article to see how it is expressed — but he is ready next week to go to New York, and mentioned this even before assuming the EU Council Presidency, he said.
Regarding the Parliamentary Elections, he said sorry, it is a ridiculous argument. The Parliamentary Elections result or the process towards Parliamentary Elections does not affect matters in any case, he said.
If some have inability at this moment to come to talks, let them come out publicly and say it, the president said.
But the Greek Cypriot side, not at all, Christodoulides said. Cyprus is ready next week in New York, wherever the Secretary-General chooses, to participate in an expanded conference where the resumption of negotiations will be announced.
And, he repeated, because it has importance, with full respect for the negotiating acquis.