Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos assured on Thursday that a solution of the Cyprus problem constitutes an absolute priority because time passes by at the expense of reunification and the wounds get deeper, adding that a settlement must lead to the real reunification of Cyprus, the society, the economy, the territory and its institutions, based on UN Security Council resolutions and on the principles upon which the EU was founded.
In a speech at the state banquet in honour of President of Slovakia Ivan Gasparovic, President Papadopoulos said the solution must unite, be functional and just and prescribe a European future, common for Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, noting that the government remains committed to the immediate implementation of the July 8 agreement and that the delay and lack of progress in this direction is a cause of particular worry and concern as to the kind of solution that is truly sought by the other side.
President Papadopoulos said the talks he had earlier with Gasparovic ”have confirmed the high level of our bilateral relations which develop within a climate of appreciation, respect and trust for the mutual interest of our two peoples and our countries.”
”I am, therefore, optimistic and look forward to the further enhancement of our cooperation, both on the bilateral level and within the framework of the EU as well as in other international fora, because I believe that the potential for strengthening our bonds of cooperation is unlimited when this is governed by good will and constructive spirit,” he added.
He expressed satisfaction that the Slovakian President included in his accompanying delegation a number of distinguished businessmen from Slovakia, with special interest and inclination in investigating the possibilities to start business and cooperation in various fields of the economy, such as trade and services.
President Papadopoulos noted that ”Cyprus has laid strong foundations and today can be proud of her transformation into a contemporary International Services Centre and a base for investment activities in the wider region of the Middle East,” adding that the island has also managed to win the modern traveller, tourist, sightseer and businessman, by offering high quality tourist infrastructure, hospitality, sun, sea, archaeological treasures and a century-old cultural tradition.
”Consequently, there is room as well as challenges for cooperation in the field of tourism as well and it is up to the businessmen to seize the opportunities which lay ahead,” he pointed out.
President Papadopoulos also said that Slovakia and Cyprus are related through historic bilateral bonds and bonds of coexistence and cooperation in the big European family, and expressed gratitude for the Slovakian contribution ”through the active presence of her citizens, in the military contingent of the United Nations Peace Keeping Force in Cyprus.”
”We are also grateful for the fact that your country, as a non permanent member of the UN Security Council, did not fail to place Cyprus in her priorities. At the same time we do not forget Slovakia’s steadfast support so far within the Security Council,” he added.
He noted that the people of Cyprus also appreciate the initiative of the Embassy of Slovakia to organise, on a regular basis and to the extent that such meetings may be useful, contacts between political parties from both communities in Cyprus, which ”contribute to the building of a climate of trust and to the development of dialogue, keeping the channels of communication between the two communities open.”
Referring to the Cyprus problem, President Papadopoulos said a solution ”constitutes an absolute priority for us because time passes by at the expense of reunification and the wounds get deeper.”
”The target remains the peaceful solution of the Cyprus problem through negotiations under the UN auspices. In order to be successful this solution must lead to the real reunification of Cyprus, the society, the economy, the territory and its institutions, based on the Security Council resolutions and on the principles upon which the EU was founded. The solution must unite, be functional and just and prescribe a European future, common for Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots,” he pointed out.
President Papadopoulos said the government remains committed and looks forward to the immediate implementation of the July 8 agreement, which lays the foundations for the development of a dialogue, for addressing problems of substance as well as issues that concern the everyday life of the people and for adequate preparation that will allow new comprehensive negotiations for the solution of the Cyprus problem.
”The delay and lack of progress as regards the implementation of the agreement is a cause of particular worry and concern to us as to the kind of solution that is truly sought by the other side. We hope that in the end wiser thoughts will prevail in the spirit of the long-term prospects which are being opened up for a reunified Cyprus within the framework of European integration,” he added.
He furthermore noted that the government ”continues to untiringly take unilateral actions and submit proposals aiming to create a climate of trust and conditions of cooperation and coexistence between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots,” adding that ”we have supported and continue to economically support the Turkish Cypriot community through a series of measures.”
President Papadopoulos said ”we proposed the disengagement of military forces from Nicosia within the walls, demining and demilitarisation and we truly believe in building confidence through measures whose implementation will have immediate, tangible results.”
”Unfortunately, however, our initiatives come up against policies that are contrary to the basic principle of unification. More recently, the policy for international recognition has been turned into a policy of upgrading the pseudostate, that is, international acceptance of an entity which will have the power to establish and have economic and trade relations with all the countries of the world. In reality, this policy of finding a way out of the so-called isolation has little or nothing to do with the need of the Turkish Cypriots to improve their economic status. Unfortunately, this policy targets the permanent division of the island and its people, which will be the next step, after the policy of political upgrading,” he pointed out.
President Papadopoulos said it is therefore ”not hard for somebody to understand that this is the reason why our side does not accept a proposal of the EU for adopting the so called Trade Regulation as regards the areas that are not under the effective control of the Cyprus Republic, because its implementation not only provides for the opening of illegal parts and airports while the occupation continues, but it also exclusively provides for the upgrading of the illegal occupation regime.”
He noted that the government, in response to the deliberate policy of certain people aiming at legalising the faits accomplis of the invasion, the demographic change of the occupied areas and the permanent division of the island on the pretext of ending the so called isolation, puts forward unifying proposals which will allow Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots to move forward together and not in parallel and separately, adding that ”this remains our target, our common future course and this is the only reason why we are against any divisive measures and policies.”
”Cyprus and Slovakia now march on the common road of Europe. Let us make better use of our relations both within and outside the Union, so that our people enjoy the results of cooperation. I am certain that Cyprus has a lot to learn from a country like yours, a successful country, versed in European reality, the institutions and mechanisms of the EU and the course towards integration,” he concluded.
Cyprus, which joined the EU in 2004, has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third.
President Papadopoulos and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat agreed on 8 July 2006, during a meeting in Nicosia in the presence of UN official Ibrahim Gambari, to begin a process of bicommunal discussions on issues that affect the day-to-day life of the people and concurrently those that concern substantive issues, both contributing to a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem.
