President Papadopoulos says no official initiative for Cyprus settlement

President of the Republic of Cyprus Tassos Papadopoulos said on Thursday that the Government did not have any official proposal for a new initiative for a Cyprus settlement after the presidential elections, noting that there was however information regarding mobility on the matter.

Speaking at Larnaca Airport on his return from Athens and asked about a new initiative on the Cyprus problem, President Papadopoulos said ”it is information, it is statements, press reports, and everyone is speaking about mobility.”

”I am not aware of a specific initiative. There is nothing concrete,” President Papadopoulos pointed out.

Replying to questions, President Papadopoulos said that there was a possibility for a window of opportunity to appear, based on pres reports, diplomatic sources and the UN Secretary General’s recent report, adding that there was a long distance between these remarks and an initiative.

Commenting on reactions by the Turkish occupation regime regarding the purchase of products by Turkish Cypriots in the government-controlled areas of the Republic, President Papadopoulos said the Greek Cypriot side permitted free trade, while the occupation regime imposed restrictions.

”The economic active between the two communities is totally free from our side. If there are any restrictions there are imposed by the occupation regime for its own reasons and it would be good for those speaking about free trade to know that trade is not one-way. It involves both sides and not one side forbidding it and us leaving it free,” he said.

President Papadopoulos added that the measures taken by the occupation regime to restrict the purchases made by Turkish Cypriots in the government-controlled areas was ”an answer to those who say that the Turkish Cypriots are in economic isolation.”

”If there is isolation it is isolation imposed by the occupation troops and the efforts of the Turkish Cypriots to project that they are a separate legal entity in Cyprus,” the President pointed out.