President Tassos Papadopoulos said that casinos by themselves are not a bad thing, as they can be regulated by a government but “things that go around the casinos are worrying.”
“My personal view is that I am against casino but the majority of my Cabinet is in favour,” he said as he answered questions by foreign media correspondents at a lunch hosted by the Cyprus News Agency (CNA).
Asked about issuing visas to Russian nationals, since Cyprus as an EU member has to comply with European regulations, President Papadopoulos explained that Nicosia is considering a pre-visa certification to facilitate procedures, something it is pursuing with the EU.
He said he discussed this issue with Russian President Vladimir Putin and said it was important for the local economy to help remove procedural difficulties.
“We have taken good measures which will relieve the people of certain inconveniences within the limits of what the EU allows us to do,” he told journalists.
The government, he added, recognizes Schengen visas issued to citizens of third countries.
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Oil exploitation
Questioned on the prospect of exploration and exploitation of possible hydrocarbon and oil reserves in eastern Mediterranean, he said there is very good cooperation on the matter with
Responding to questions, he said the Cabinet has approved the legal framework to safeguard
He said the area to be explored is divided into sites and international bids will be invited to do the work.
Re-election
Asked if he would run for re-election in next year’s presidential race, he said he had not taken a decision on the matter.
“If I say now that I am not going to stand, I am what the Americans call a ‘lame duck president’ which will minimize the effect of the government. If I say I am going to be a candidate, whatever I do between now and the election will be considered electioneering measure, which is not the case,” he explained.
Noting that he has to find the proper moment, he added “I do not care very much whether anybody believes me or not, I have not decided what to do.”
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Politics
The demilitarisation of the walled city of
.
In this respect, President Papadopoulos has stressed the importance of securing safe passage for Cypriots crossing to and from the Turkish-occupied northern areas of the country, at this specific location.
“Our proposal provides for the withdrawal of troops from both sides. We had two alternative proposals, first the troops from the vicinity should be withdrawn by both sides, the area to be turned over to UN control or total demilitarization of the walled city of Nicosia and the policing of the area turned over to the police and UNFICYP,” he explained
He said that after the demolition of a footbridge, illegally constructed by the occupation regime, the Turkish occupation forces have established positions in the area, built fortifications and manned military posts within the buffer zone. The President wondered whether the UN, which have responsibility in the buffer zone, will accept this violation within no man’s land.
Papadopoulos said the Turkish Cypriots are claiming control over the whole areas between their existing roadblock and
, far away of what is the boundary of no man’s land and the UN is excluded from that area.
He said that foreign nationals passing through the area may not feel threatened by the Turkish occupation forces but Greek Cypriots do and reminded foreign media representatives that he has a responsibility for the security of the people.
Questioned on the possible opening of a crossing point at the end of Ledra street, Papadopoulos stressed that the Greek Cypriot side does not put forward any new terms, recalling his proposals of December 2005 to the UN, which point to the need for safe passage of Cypriots through the crossing, while at the same time they refer to the idea of demilitarizing the area within the walls surrounding the capital Nicosia.
Gambari agreement – Talks
In his opening remarks to the journalists, he said he hopes that during 2007 there will be sufficient preparation for substantive negotiations leading to Cyprus settlement, adding that the agreement he reached with the leader of the Turkish Cypriot community Mehmet Ali Talat in July last year is a working tool towards this direction.
He said a meeting with Talat without proper preparation would confirm the gap between the two sides and stressed that dialogue without good preparation would only confirm the deadlock.
Responding to questions about the ongoing talks between his top aide and Talat’s aide, he said there is an agreement that all subjects which either side proposes will be discussed and a second agreement to have the two sides suggest the sequence in which topics will be discussed.
“We hope that the Turkish Cypriots will agree with us that the Gambari agreement is the best hope we have to start meaningful negotiations, we insist on full implementation of the agreement with no conditions or reservations,” the Cypriot President added.
He explained that there must be agreement on the subjects that the technical committees will discuss to make progress, adding that UN Secretary General’s special representative in Cyprus Michael Moller is doing his best towards this goal.
On the objectives of the two sides, President Papadopoulos acknowledged that “we know exactly what the other side is aiming at, and they know exactly what we are aiming at. They clearly want to establish in Cyprus two separate legal entities, upgrade their own entity to a state short of diplomatic recognition.”
“We want a solution that will lead to the reunification of the state, the territory, society, economy, institutions,” he said, noting that many say that a solution must serve primarily, the interests of the Cypriot people, not those of foreign countries but he himself believes a solution must serve “exclusively” the interests of Cypriots.
“We are hopeful that soon enough everybody will realize that the solution is better than a deadlock, a solution that is workable. We have proposals, alternative suggestions to solve problems which I think will not deprive Turkish Cypriots of legitimate rights they ought to have but at the same time it will ensure the functionality of the state,” he said.
The Cypriot President said that from now on all five permanent members of the UN Security Council, and not just the
Papadopoulos reiterated that he is committed to a bizonal bicommunal federal solution that will reunite the country, the people, the society, the economy and the institutions and which will be viable and functional.
In response to questions by the foreign media representatives, he said “I believe people with good will can find a solution without depriving either Greek Cypriots or Turkish Cypriots of their rights, pointing out that a reunified Cyprus is the best thing for the Cypriots and stressing the crucial importance he lays on the property issue in the effort for a political settlement.
On the discussions aides to the leaders of the two communities are having, in the context of the July agreement, Papadopoulos said the Greek Cypriot side emphasizes the need for preparing the ground for any meeting between himself and Talat, as provided by the agreement, while the Turkish Cypriot side favours such a meeting, without apparently proper preparation.
Papadopoulos said he has been in touch with the new UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon through correspondence, as he replied to Ban’s letter but would not disclose anything about the content of the letters exchanged.
On a UN-proposed solution plan, the Annan plan, which the overwhelming majority of the Greek Cypriots rejected in a referendum in April 2004, the Cypriot President said no UN document fades away, noting that the said plan cannot be brought back again. He noted, however, that it does contain certain useful provisions on various issues and clarified that the new basis of substantive negotiations towards a solution will emerge through the current talks his aide and Talat’s aide are having, under UN auspices, as a result of the July agreement he reached with Talat.
Asked if he believes that a better solution than the one provided in a UN plan (Annan plan) can be found, he said there is no question of bringing back the Annan plan as it is, reiterating his commitment to its philosophy for a bicommunal bizonal federation that will be functional and viable.
“Finding a better solution depends on many things,”, he said, adding that if a proposal such as the Annan plan is not acceptable, then it is hoped that “by good will and willingness to compromise you improve points which are obviously bad.”
He also said that this plan contains useful provisions on many subjects but the new basis of negotiations will evolve from the ongoing talks in the framework of the July agreement.
On Turkey’s European orientation, he said
Responding to other questions on the matter, he said in the EU they believe that all candidate countries have to comply with the same rules and that there is no special ticket because of the importance of
“Yet Turkey says the EU must realize its importance for Europe and accept the realities of Turkey and accept Turkey on the basis of these realities, this is not going to happen and the sooner this becomes evident, the better for everybody,” he added.
If there was any EU discrimination, he said, it was in
On opening and closing chapters in Turkey’s accession talks, he recalled a recent decision of the European Council that apart from eight chapters that will not open until Ankara meets its obligations to Cyprus, other negotiating chapters will open and close as the Intergovernmental Conference may decide.
Turkish Cypriots
“We do not want to isolate the Turkish Cypriots, it is not in our interest because I think the economic equilibrium is one of the basic necessities, prerequisites for bringing about a solution,” he said when questioned on what the Turkish Cypriots call isolation from the international community.
“The idea of lifting the so-called isolation refers to the question of trade and it has been stated, not only us but also others, that the issue is not economic but political and figures prove it,” he stressed.
Papadopoulos said the government offers to Turkish Cypriots by way of medical aid, scholarships, pensions and other benefits, millions of pounds.
The Cypriot President ruled out the operation of the illegal airport in occupied
Eurozone
On the state of the economy, Papadopoulos said that all economic indicators suggest that there will be no devaluation of the
“All indications are against any suggestion of a devaluation. There is no such question,” he told foreign media correspondents, stressing that the objective is to join the eurozone and not sacrifice the social state and social grants.
He noted that the
On recent developments in the banking sector, he said in a globalised world, the government has no way to control takeover bids nor can it get involved in such bids.
“There is very little the government can do to prevent these developments,” he said in response to questions about takeover bids, noting that there are independent authorities that will examine these developments and ensure compliance with the law.
He said free movement of capital and people are in place in
The Central Bank and the Commission are to ensure compliance with the law, he noted.
“We wish to establish healthy conditions, compliance with the law as to the submission of offers and eventually the shareholders will decide,” he noted.
