by Costas Stavrinos
Prague – President of the House of Representatives Demetris Christofias expressed on Friday evening the view that, for any movement in the Cyprus problem on behalf of Turkey, ”we should first expect its problems to be solved concerning Iraq and its internal affairs.”
Speaking with members of the Cypriot community in Prague, where he is on an official visit, Christofias said the Greek Cypriot side will continue its policy of rapprochement with the Turkish Cypriots and its policy of taking initiatives, and ”we will push in this direction and we will continue to implement a policy of principles regarding the solution of the Cyprus problem.”
”The taking of initiatives and flexibility do not rule out but flow with defending the fundamental principles of a solution of the Cyprus problem, based on UN resolutions, the high level agreements of 1977 and 1979, and international and European law,” he said.
Referring to the 8 July 2006 agreement, Christofias said ”developments in Turkey and around Turkey have not allowed for any progress in the July 8 agreement,” adding that ”the July 8 agreement could create the conditions to break the deadlock, begin substantive talks in workgroups and reduce the gap between the two sides on a series of very important aspects of the Cyprus problem.”
Christofias also referred to the dispute between the Turkish military and the political party of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, noting that there were serious concerns that the compromise for the election of the new Turkish President would be ”a continuation of the tough line on the Cyprus problem.”
On his trip to Prague, Christofias said it was very substantive and pointed out that in his talks with Czech officials ”we have reaffirmed the ties of friendship, cooperation and solidarity” between the two countries.
President of the Republic Tassos 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.
