President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, has expressed his readiness to participate to negotiations on the Cyprus issue even tomorrow, adding at the same time that he intends to make concessions only on certain points that serve the goal of a functional and viable solution to the Cyprus issue, but he will not engage in actions to create merely temporary mobility.
Addressing the 46th Morphou Municipality anti-occupation rally on Saturday evening, Christodoulides stressed that “we do not compromise with the occupation, and we do not withdraw from the great effort to liberate and reunite our homeland.” He also spoke about the duty “to work for a common homeland for all the country’s legal residents, Greek Cypriots, Turkish Cypriots, Maronites, Armenians, and Latins, without exclusions, without discrimination, without exceptions.”
Referring to remarks earlier by the Mayor of Morphou, Victoras Hadjiavraam, aboutpositive developments due to international mobility regarding the Cyprus issue, the President noted that since the assumption of his duties, “huge efforts have been made to break the deadlock and create the conditions for the resumption of negotiations that will lead us to a resolution of the Cyprus issue, based on the agreed framework and the negotiating acquis, which is important for Morphou, always with respect to the principles, values, and law of the European Union.”
“I want to reiterate with absolute sincerity and sending the message in every direction, that I am fully ready even tomorrow to sit at the negotiation table, I am ready for the resumption of the dialogue,” the President stated, reiterating his commitment to efforts for the resumption of negotiations, despite the problems, difficulties, and the statements of the Turkish President at the United Nations General Assembly regarding a two-state solution.
He also stressed the importance of the reaffirmation of the solution framework by the United Nations, the strong will of the outgoing Secretary-General to exhaust every negotiating possibility, the clear position of the UN Security Council and the support of the EU institutions and states, as demonstrated through the appointment of the Executive Vice-President of the Commission as a Special Representative on the Cyprus issue.
“These are facts that allow us to feel optimistic that a solution to the Cyprus issue is feasible,” he said, emphasizing that he will not engage “in actions aimed at creating temporary mobility or creating false hopes.”
“I remain primarily a realist, I know very well the limits of our side and I am ready, and I declare this publicly, for concessions on certain points that serve the goal of a functional and viable solution to the Cyprus issue,” President Christodoulides continued, noting that “anything that falls outside this framework of a functional and viable solution cannot be accepted.”
He also pointed out that “the negotiating acquis on which we insist and is part of the convergences that have been completed by the UN, includes the return of the city of Morphou,” while noting that this is “something that was indicated by the UN Secretary-General himself, a position that we support in a steadfast way and will not abandon.”
“I look forward to the meetings I will have in the coming period with both the Turkish Cypriot leader and the Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary-General, I look forward to the meetings of the executive vice-president, special representative of the EU with the Turkish Government with the unwavering belief that if there is the slightest political will from all sides, then we will have developments in the desired direction,” said the President.
“We have submitted very specific positions in response to the Secretary-General’s request regarding the methodology of negotiations, concerning Confidence-building measures (CBMs), and regarding the essence of the Cyprus issue, and I am referring to new ideas, not ideas for which we know that the other side’s position is negative, but ideas that can help bring about substantial developments, ideas that I have thoroughly informed the political leadership about,” he continued.
On his part, the Mayor of Morphou, Victoras Hadjiyavram, stated in his address at the event that as long as the prospect of a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus issue remains open, the hope for the return of Morphou remains alive. ‘We do not overlook the difficult reality. We know the uncompromising positions expressed by the Turkish and Turkish Cypriot leadership,’ said the Mayor, noting, however, positive developments such as the recent visit of the United Nations Secretary-General to Cyprus, his separate meetings with the President of the Republic of Cyprus and the Turkish Cypriot leader, as well as the appointment of a Special Representative of the European Commission for the Cyprus issue.
‘The talks must lead somewhere. We do not have the luxury of endless discussions,’ he underlined.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results due to Turkish intransigence. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, whose term nears its end, announced he would convene another meeting in broader format, after adequate preparation, but gave no timeline. He secured to that end the consensus of both sides and of the guarantor powers. María Angela Holguín, Guterres’ Personal Envoy on Cyprus, is tasked to engage with the parties. Executive Vice-President Raffaele Fitto acts as the European Commission’s Special Representative for Cyprus, succeeding EU special envoy Johannes Hahn.