Greek Alternate Minister of Foreign Affairs Demetris Droutsas has noted that the leaders of the two communities in Cyprus should take advantage of the next weeks in their efforts to solve the Cyprus problem, and pointed out that the Turkish Cypriot side should adopt a constructive attitude.
Speaking after a meeting in New York with UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon, Droutsas said President of the Republic of Cyprus Demetris Christofias was addressing the negotiating process in a very constructive and courageous manner, and assured that Greece fully supports his efforts.
Droutsas said that they discussed especially issues that are of specific Greek interest and concern, including the developments in Cyprus, and that the UN Secretary General informed him about his recent visit to Cyprus.
Asked if he shared the UN Secretary General's optimism about the events in Cyprus, Droutsas said ''it is certainly again an important period in the negotiating process on Cyprus.''
''We have to encourage both leaders, President Christofias and the leader of the Turkish Cypriot community Mr. Mehmet Ali Talat, to take advantage of the next days and weeks to come, and try to intensify also their talks but I would also like to stress the fact that maybe time is not always your friend but the quality of the solution, the settlement for Cyprus should not be some sort of a victim of any kind of time frameworks,'' he said.
He added that ''we have to put all our efforts and energy in trying to take advantage of the next weeks to come but certainly it needs also from the Turkish Cypriot side the necessary constructive attitude in order to find the necessary settlement.''
Replying to questions about his meeting with the UN chief, Droutsas said ''we have had, as always, a very frank discussion with the Secretary General and I had the opportunity to outline to him also our analysis of the facts and the facts so far and judging especially on the latest proposals that were issued by Mr. Talat.''
He said the proposals ''are not going in the necessary right direction and do not really give us all necessary opportunity and possibility to be very optimistic but still again we want to encourage both sides, both leaders to try to take advantage of the next days and weeks to come and reach the necessary settlement.''
To other questions, Droutsas said that ''we will back and we are always backing all sincere efforts to find and come up with a settlement which is on the basis of the relevant UN resolutions, which is respecting the principles of the EU and which is respecting the so-called acquis communautaire, the rules of the EU.''
''I would like to stress and emphasise that the Republic of Cyprus is a member state of the EU and also after a mutually agreed settlement will be a member state of the EU. This means it has always to be able to function efficiently within the EU, this is in the interest and to the benefit of all Cypriots both Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots and also of course in the interest of the EU, so in this regard we have to emphasise that the settlement reached will fully respect the European acquis, the rules of the EU,'' he said.
He also pointed out that ''in this context we see that President Christofias is addressing these issues and the negotiating process in a very constructive and courageous way'' and expressed ''the full support of the Greek government to the efforts of President Demetris Christofias.''
In a statement issued by the UN regarding the Secretary General's meeting with Droutsas, the UN notes that the Secretary General briefed the Greek official on his recent trip to Cyprus, ''where he was encouraged by the important progress made so far and by the strong commitment of the leaders.''
''Sharing his renewed conviction that a solution is within reach, the Secretary General underlined the important role Greece can play to support the process,'' the statement says, adding that Droutsas ''reassured the Secretary General of the Greek Government's full support.''
Cyprus, which joined the EU in 2004, has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third.
President Christofias and Talat have been engaged in UN-led direct negotiations since September 2008, with an aim to reunify the island. They also held two rounds of intensive negotiations in January 2010, prior to the UN chief's visit to the island.
