A just solution of the Cyprus problem depends to a great extent on Turkey, President of the Republic of Cyprus Demetris Christofias stressed here Monday.
“A just solution is not something which depends solely on us. It does not depend on the political will of the two communities only. It depends mainly on Turkey and whether Ankara realises that a just solution would be to its benefit and thus change its policy”, President Christofias pointed out.
He went on to note that as long as Ankara “insists on the interpretations of a Cyprus solution given by the Turkish National Security Council, there will be no solution in Cyprus”.
President Christofias added that the solution “depends also to a great extent on the international community and whether it exerts its pressure on Ankara, based on international law and UN decisions”.
Addressing an event, organised by the left – wing AKEL party Central Committee, to honor him for his contribution as AKEL’s General Secretary, President Christofias pledged to work for Cyprus’ reunification.
“Only in a truly independent, demilitarized and federal Cyprus, the island’s two communities will be able to live and prosper under conditions of peace and security. I am committed to working with all my strength, and backed by our people, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, to make this dream, a reality”, the Cypriot President underlined.
He reiterated that the Cyprus solution should free Cyprus from Turkey’s occupation, foreign dependencies and Turkey’s policy to bring illegal settlers to Cyprus.
The solution, he added, must reunify not only the state, but also the economy, the people and the institutions and must restore the human rights of all Cypriots.
“As long as I am President of Cyprus, I will work with consistency for a solution based on a bizonal, bicommunal federation and political equality, as defined in UN resolutions, with one and only sovereignty, a single international personality and one citizenship”, he said.
He warned that “any thought, leading to a solution that would fall outside this framework, despite how much it is glamourised, it would lead to adventures and to the final division”.
The Cypriot President said that Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots have their role to play, noting that “when in our dialogue we have convergence, then we succeed in making it hard for the powers of division, thus pressuring even more the international community to play a positive role”.
President Christofias also commented on an interview given to a Sunday newspaper by Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat, who said that Turkey’s guarantees are a must in the framework of a solution. Christofias stressed that Cypriots, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, do not need guarantor powers with intervention rights.
President Christofias noted that Cyprus’ participation in the EU is a good and satisfactory guarantee for all Cypriots, Greek Cypriots, Turkish Cypriots, Maronites, Armenians and Latins.
He also said that both communities should apologise to each other for their share of responsibility as regards the Cyprus tragedy.
“It is high time for both communities to say ‘sorry’ to each other for their share of responsibility in the tragedy that hit our country, with foreigners being the protagonists, and we should look to the future”, he stressed.
Referring to the European Parliament elections, to take place 6th of June in Cyprus, he said that his party, AKEL, must become again the first party, in order to “continue fulfilling the expectations of the people, supporting their hopes and paving the way for the future”.
Addressing the AKEL gathering, he thanked the party for honouring him, saying that he continues to share the concerns and the expectations of the people of again, who taught him to respect everybody.
“I have attended three schools in life: the AKEL associations in my native village of Dikomo, the youth branch of AKEL – EDON – and the most important university of life for me was the party, AKEL and its former leader, the late Ezekias Papaioannou,” he said.
Concluding he described AKEL as “the largest political and social power in the country, a democratic party with its members being the true masters, a party which is always close to the people.”
Cypriot President Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat have been engaged in direct negotiations since September 2008 with a view to solve the question of Cyprus, which has been divided since 1974 when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third.
