.jpg)
Cyprus and Greece agree that the negotiations between the leaders of the two communities in Cyprus for a solution of the island's political problem have not made the expected progress, President of the Republic of Cyprus Demetris Christofias said on Wednesday.
He added that, irrespective of the course of the negotiations, the Greek Cypriot side will continue to be engaged in them with good will, sincerity and reasonable positions, with an aim to reach a mutually acceptable solution, without timeframes or arbitration.
In his opening remarks at a press conference with Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis, President Christofias expressed his joy for the official visit of Karamanlis to Cyprus and noted that it is a follow-up of his visit to Athens last November.
''It is proof in practice of the excellent and sincere relations in all sectors between Cyprus and Greece. We are continuously developing and strengthening these relations,'' he said, adding that ''the relations of our countries and peoples are based on common centuries-old struggles, the common cultural traditions, deep and sincere friendship, and the existence of full coordination and cooperation on various issues of mutual interest.''
President Christofias said that ''the first issue that concerns Cyprus and Greece is the Cyprus problem and efforts to reach a solution that will terminate the occupation and will reunite the territory, the people, the institutions and the economy.''
''I had the opportunity again today to brief in detail the Prime Minister and the delegation accompanying him on developments in the Cyprus problem, and especially regarding the course of the direct negotiations,'' he said.
He added that it is a common evaluation that ''the negotiations between the leaders of the two communities have not recorded the progress we hoped for, although we knew from the beginning the great difficulties in efforts to reach a solution.''
President Christofias said that ''there is progress and convergences on various issues but on various important matters there are serious disagreements and divergences.''
''I wish once again to stress that, irrespective of the course of the negotiations, the Greek Cypriot side will continue to attend them in good will, sincerity and reasonable positions. Faithful to principles, with determination and flexibility, we will continue to work in order to reach a mutually acceptable solution, without timeframes and arbitration,'' he assured.
President Christofias pointed out that ''the aim is to reach a bizonal bicommunal federation with political equality, as defined by relevant UN resolutions, for a federal state with a single sovereignty, a single citizenship and a single international identity.''
He noted that ''this is the basis of the solution provided for in the UN resolutions on Cyprus and the high level agreements of 1977 and 1979, this is the basis of the solution that the two communities reaffirmed during the preparatory period.''
''We aim at a solution based on the principles of international and European law, and which will safeguard the human rights and fundamental freedoms of the whole of the people, Greek Cypriots, Turkish Cypriots, Maronites, Armenians and Latins,'' he added.
President Christofias said that ''with the Greek Prime Minister we also discussed Turkey's EU accession course in view of the forthcoming evaluation of Turkey in December this year,'' adding that ''it is well known that both Cyprus and Greece support Turkey's European prospect.''
''It is a common view that the accession course, under certain preconditions, can function as a motive to Turkey to cooperate for a just, under the circumstances, solution, which will be viable and functional, will allow the total normalisation of Greco-Turkish relations. Of course, the first and necessary precondition for the smooth continuation of Turkey's accession course is for the country to meet the obligations it has undertaken towards the EU and the Republic of Cyprus, which unfortunately so far it has not done,'' he noted.
He added that they also exchanged views on various international matters of mutual interest, especially the Western Balkans and the Middle East, noting that they determined ''a broad coincidence of views.''
President Christofias said he expressed to Karamanlis the support of the Republic of Cyprus to Greece in its efforts to develop good neighbourly relations with FYROM, and also to solve longstanding conflicts and establish peace, stability, prosperity and democracy, in the context of Greece's presidency of the Organisation for Security of the Council of Europe.
''These efforts on behalf of Greece fully comport with the multi-level foreign policy of the government of the Republic of Cyprus, which aims at transforming Cyprus into a bridge of cooperation for the EU with third countries, something for which we are actively working,'' he said.
Concluding his opening remarks, President Christofias expressed the gratitude of the people and the government of Cyprus for the support Karamanlis, the Greek government and the Greek people and political leadership are offering to Cyprus and its people, adding that ''your support is a source of strength for us to continue our struggle.''
Cyprus, which joined the EU in 2004, has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third.
President Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat have been engaged in UN-led direct negotiations since September 2008, with an aim to reunite the island.
