The President of the Republic Mr. Nikos Christodoulidis addresses the Anti-Occupation Event of the Municipality of Famagusta, at the Cultural Center of Occupied Famagusta, Deryneia, Cyprus.
Developments in the Cyprus – The invitation came for a three-parter on August 13 in New York – Tatar's response pending
Proposal for a trilateral meeting with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar in New York on August 13< /strong>made by the United Nations to the President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulidis, which he accepted, as he stated from the stage of the Famagusta Municipality's anti-occupation event in Deryneia.
“A few days ago, as a result of our persistent efforts, both to the UN Secretary General and to the EU, always, yes, in cooperation with the Greek government, I have been targeted by the UN to participate in August, on a specific date, on13 August in a tripartite meeting with the Secretary-General of the UN in New York with the aim of resuming the talks”, said the President of the Republic.
“My response was of course positive and I hope – we have not yet been informed – there should be the same response from the Turkish side and the holding of the meeting should lead to positive results which cannot be other than the resumption of talks”, he added.
Pending developments, he did not want to give more details.
“I am here tonight, and looking you in the eye, I want to sincerely convey to you the assurances that depend solely on my own efforts on the basis of objective conditions and possibilities,” said the President
He emphasized in the most emphatic way that the road for him has only one direction, because no solution is not a solution, “because we do not compromise with division, because we know very well who is favored by the passage of time and stagnation, because my main concern is the end of the occupation, the liberation and the reunification of our homeland”.
< p class="text-paragraph">He noted that since the day he took office, not with words and statements, but with actions, he has been working tirelessly to break the impasse, and to resume talks on resolution of the Cyprus issue. “This is what I am doing and this is what I will continue to do until I achieve this particular goal,” he said.
He added that in this context he proceeded with bold, concrete unilateral measures towards the Turkish Cypriots, who in Brussels, through the Conclusions of the European Council of April, sent a positive message to Turkey for substantial progress in Euro-Turkish relations always in combination with positive developments in the Cyprus issue and the effort to resolve it. In the same context, he added, he reiterated the proposals of the three previous Presidents of the Republic of Cyprus for bold confidence-building measures, which also concern the closed area of Famagusta.
“It was in the context of of our clear political will, the recognition of our credibility by the international community that I proposed direct contact between the two leaders or even the negotiators in meetings in the presence of the UN, or even the organization of an informal five-party meeting”, he said.
< p class="text-paragraph">Stating that things were not easy, he said that the appointment of the Secretary General's personal envoy, as a result of the Government's efforts, was successful.
“It was the result of recognition, so from the UN and the Permanent Members of the Security Council as well as from the EU, of our clear political will to resolve the Cyprus issue and it came after painstaking and coordinated actions. And we continue methodically and quietly at all levels and times”, he said.
He added that to these initiatives and proposals of the Government that were adopted by the UN and the international community, there was, unfortunately, so far, a negative response from the Turkish side. p>
However, he emphasized that it does not satisfy him and does not serve the goal if the stagnation is due to the Turkish side. Because the point, as he said, is for there to be positive developments.
The President Christodoulidishe emphasized that the return to Famagusta, and the reunification of Cyprus is a one-way street for the Government.
He also said that “the solution we envision has no losers, but only winners. And among them are our Turkish Cypriot compatriots, whom, the vast majority, we consider victims of the occupying army of Turkey”.
He also mentioned that in the great effort to restart the talks he is not alone, since he feels the support of the refugee world, the occupied municipalities and communities, the organized groups and the majority of the political forces, but above all, “I am encouraged by the will of all of you , who are the irresistible force of assertion and the silent voice of protest.”
He also stated highly encouragedsince the event for Famagusta is full of young people, who may not have memories of the city but love it, care for it and hurt it equally. They are moved at the sight of her, and tearfully sing the verses written about this unforgettable city. For 50 years he has kept the flame of desire for return burning, he has kept his faith in justice intact and is shouting to the whole world that “no one forgets, nothing is forgotten”, he said.
“Tonight, with our eyes fixed on Famagusta, we also honor those who fought for the preservation of legitimacy in our homeland, for the territorial integrity and independence of the Republic of Cyprus”, he added.
< p class="text-paragraph">He also referred to the displaced, the missing, the heroic trapped, the relatives of the fallen, all those who carry the wounds of the crime committed against the country and its people.
