11/09/2017 09:25
President of the Republic Nicos Anastasiades expressed on Sunday the Greek Cypriot side’s readiness to return to the negotiating table, provided that the fundamental preconditions set by the UN Secretary General for the creation of a normal state.
Speaking on the sidelines of an event at Episkopio village, in Nicosia district, the President was asked if he is expecting any development after his forthcoming meeting with the UNSG Antonio Guterres in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meeting, Anastasiades said that at the meeting “we will express our readiness, provided everything that we have noted on the documents submitted are kept”.
President Anastasiades said he has repeatedly stated through letters to EU leaders, the Islamic Conference, the permanent members of the UN and the SG that provided the fundamental prerequisites set forth by the SG himself regarding the creation of a normal state are implemented, we would be ready to return to the negotiating table”.
Therefore, he added, “during the meeting, we will express our readiness provided the fundamental principles of the UN and the EU which are included in the documents we submitted, are kept to enable us to create a normal state”.
Asked if there will be a meeting with Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci in the presence of the Secretary General, President Anastasiades said that any meeting should have a purpose.
"If and when," he said, the Turkish Cypriot side responds to our positions and the right preparation takes place, we will not say no to meeting with our compatriots. He reminded that a 30-month dialogue took place with the Turkish Cypriot side, so “it depends both on Mr Akinci and on those who define the lines that Mr Akinci is following, namely Turkey."
President Anastasiades also referred to a number of initiatives he will undertake through the international contacts he will have, either through bilateral or trilateral meetings.
Invited to comment an observation that this year things have changed in the occupied areas and it appears that the Turkish Cypriots are rapidly assimilated or fully controlled by Turkey, the President said this is not a “phenomenon observed after the collapse of the Crans Montana talks”, noting it was Turkey’s firm pursuit.
Mosques were not being built overnight, after the collapse of Crans Montana. It is a focused and targeted pursuit by Turkey, the President said.
Invited to comment on press reports that there is pessimism on the part of the government regarding the results of the exploratory drilling at Block 11 of the island’s Exclusive Economic Zone, President Anastasiades said this was not the case.
He said Block 11 might not be satisfactory for exploitation however the reserves found are of the same composition as those located at Zor and this creates great hopes.
Saturday’s edition of Phileleftheros newspaper said that no large natural gas discoveries were made at Onisiforos but that TOTAL/ENI consortium which are carrying out the drilling were satisfied as it as raises the chances to find other reserves.
Speaking on the sidelines of an event at Episkopio village, in Nicosia district, the President was asked if he is expecting any development after his forthcoming meeting with the UNSG Antonio Guterres in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meeting, Anastasiades said that at the meeting “we will express our readiness, provided everything that we have noted on the documents submitted are kept”.
President Anastasiades said he has repeatedly stated through letters to EU leaders, the Islamic Conference, the permanent members of the UN and the SG that provided the fundamental prerequisites set forth by the SG himself regarding the creation of a normal state are implemented, we would be ready to return to the negotiating table”.
Therefore, he added, “during the meeting, we will express our readiness provided the fundamental principles of the UN and the EU which are included in the documents we submitted, are kept to enable us to create a normal state”.
Asked if there will be a meeting with Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci in the presence of the Secretary General, President Anastasiades said that any meeting should have a purpose.
"If and when," he said, the Turkish Cypriot side responds to our positions and the right preparation takes place, we will not say no to meeting with our compatriots. He reminded that a 30-month dialogue took place with the Turkish Cypriot side, so “it depends both on Mr Akinci and on those who define the lines that Mr Akinci is following, namely Turkey."
President Anastasiades also referred to a number of initiatives he will undertake through the international contacts he will have, either through bilateral or trilateral meetings.
Invited to comment an observation that this year things have changed in the occupied areas and it appears that the Turkish Cypriots are rapidly assimilated or fully controlled by Turkey, the President said this is not a “phenomenon observed after the collapse of the Crans Montana talks”, noting it was Turkey’s firm pursuit.
Mosques were not being built overnight, after the collapse of Crans Montana. It is a focused and targeted pursuit by Turkey, the President said.
Invited to comment on press reports that there is pessimism on the part of the government regarding the results of the exploratory drilling at Block 11 of the island’s Exclusive Economic Zone, President Anastasiades said this was not the case.
He said Block 11 might not be satisfactory for exploitation however the reserves found are of the same composition as those located at Zor and this creates great hopes.
Saturday’s edition of Phileleftheros newspaper said that no large natural gas discoveries were made at Onisiforos but that TOTAL/ENI consortium which are carrying out the drilling were satisfied as it as raises the chances to find other reserves.
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