Cyprus News Agency
March 8 2012
Christofias: Cyprus Belongs to the Cypriots and to No One Else
Nicosia, Mar 8 (CNA) -Cyprus belongs to the Cypriots and to no one
else, President Demetris [Dimitrios] Christofias stressed Thursday
commenting on statements by Turkish Minister of EU Affairs and Chief
Negotiator Egemen Bagis statements about the possibility of
integrating Cyprus’ Turkish occupied areas to Turkey.
Addressing an event, organized in Nicosia on the occasion of the
International Women’s Day, Christofias underlined that the Greek
Cypriot side has shown good will for a settlement the soonest
possible, adding that this does not however mean that we will grant to
anyone the right to impose a settlement.
He said that a solution will be accepted only if is functional and
viable the settlement and it reunites the country, its people, the
institutions and the economy, and it must be based on the
international and the European law and must secure the human rights
and the fundamental freedoms of Cypriot citizens.
“It must be a settlement that will provide for a bizonal, bicommunal
federation with political equality as defined by the relevant UN
Security Council resolutions, with a single state, a single and
undivided sovereignty, a single personality and a single citizenship,”
he noted.
Christofias expressed regret and disappointment over the fact that
Turkey and Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu have distanced
themselves from the fundamental principles of the Cyprus problem.
“They are also moving away from the convergences in various chapters
achieved in the framework of the current process of direct
negotiations. And not only this but also recently both Turkey and
Eroglu have been launching threats against us,” Christofias noted.
“It is unacceptable and conflicting to attend the negotiations,
discuss, and at the same time listen to Eroglu making threatening
statements which constitute a major provocation not only for our side
but also for the UN and the EU as well,” he stressed.
Christofias said the Turkish side most often refers to B plans for the
Cyprus problem, which consolidate division and the pseudo-state and
referred to Bagis’ statements about the possibility of integrating
Cyprus’ Turkish areas to Turkey.
He said these statements humiliate first of all the Turkish Cypriots
and sent the message to Bagis and all the Turkish leadership that
“Cyprus belongs to the Cypriots -Greek Cypriots, Turkish Cypriots,
Armenians, Maronites and Latins and to no one else.”
Christofias said that with its arrogance Turkey is even threatening
the EU. “We firmly believe that the UN cannot follow this behaviour
with apathy. The Turkish behaviour constitutes a provocation and an
insult for the UN,” he noted.
Christofias also made clear once again, that the Greek Cypriot side
will not accept any time table and the convening of an international
conference on Cyprus if the preconditions set out by the UN in its
2002 UN resolution are not met.
He also noted that such a conference must be attended by the UN
Security Council permanent members, the guarantor powers, the European
Union, the Republic of Cyprus and the two communities to look into the
international aspects of the Cyprus problem.
Referring to the economy, Christofias said that the government has
taken since the beginning of the crisis measures aiming at boosting
the most important sectors of the economy as well as measures to
support the most vulnerable groups of the population.
The Cypriot President also expressed his conviction that the
forthcoming EU Cypriot Presidency will be successful noting that “we
will keep having our hand extended towards the Turkish Cypriot side,
despite the fact that there is no response so far.”
Referring to the International Women’s Day, Christofias expressed his
respect for all the women of Cyprus, Greek Cypriots, Turkish Cypriots,
Maronites, Armenians and Latins and noted that the promotion of
equality among men and women constitutes an indispensable part of the
effort for greater social cohesion, for a society in which every
citizen will enjoy his or her rights.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied
its northern third. The leaders of the two communities in Cyprus are
currently engaged in UN-led negotiations with an aim to reunify the
island.