We have reached an extremely difficult point. An attempt is underway by Turkey to forcibly create fait accompli which. The only way to reverse them, is to resume substantive negotiations which should focus on the solution of the Cyprus problem. And when we talk about a solution, let me make it clear for the umpteenth time that we mean a solution based on the agreed framework, on the parameters that we have been discussing through all these years.

We should never talk about final opportunities. But I will say this: Every time we fail to reach a conclusion on the Cyprus problem, to arrive at a positive outcome on an agreement on the basis I have mentioned beforehand, any subsequent effort is made much more difficult. And it probably also starts on a different basis.

So we are extremely worried. We consider that valuable time has been lost in recent years. We do not share the view of the governing DISY party and President Anastasiades that our side did what it could. We know that the Turkish side, and Turkey in particular, is behaving in a provocative and aggressive way that makes the efforts (for a solution) extremely difficult. But, our own fooling around too with various supposedly “new ideas”, that were anything but “new”, we believe, have facilitated Turkey’s stance.

Consequently what we need to do is to focus and be consistent to the agreed framework of the solution. We need to implement what we agreed with the UN Secretary General, and I am referring to all that the Secretary General has repeatedly said in Berlin as well. Namely, that both leaders have an obligation to prepare the people for the need for a positive outcome to the Cyprus problem; that they both have a responsibility to create a positive climate in society so that there should be a more upgraded effort for an agreement to be reached, always based on the agreed framework.

Regarding Turkey’s stance, I’d just like to say this. It is a fact that Turkey’s public expression of positions and rhetoric, limit the room for optimism for a conclusion. We have the obligation not to get carried away by Turkey’s rhetoric. We have the obligation to put pressure on Turkey, to force it to come to the negotiating table so that its true intentions are revealed. And if it’s true intentions are those it is expressing in public, then we have no doubt whatsoever that Turkey will remain exposed.

And since the President of the Republic has replied to us in the past that his goal is not to reveal Turkey’s intransigence, but rather to solve the Cyprus problem. I genuinely wonder: is there a chance that the Cyprus problem will be resolved if we don’t engage talks? We have to go to talks. That’s precisely where we will find out what Turkey’s real intentions are.

Let me remind you that the UN Secretary-General in his Report in September 2017 wrote that he concluded, regardless of Turkey’s public position that it has come to Crans Montana with the intention of cooperating to overcome the disagreements so that we can reach an agreement. That was the assessment of the UN Secretary General himself. President Anastasiades did not express his disagreement, did not ask the Secretary General to amend this reference in the Report.

So let’s try to go to negotiations. We have justice on our side. We should be making ample preparations. We should put forth our arguments and be consistent, without regressing and contradictions on what we are seeking.

It’s precisely at the negotiations where the Turkish side’s real intentions will be revealed.

A Turkish newspaper report notes that Turkey will start explorations east of Crete after concluding the deal with Libya. President Anastasiades said that Turkey’s illegal actions must end for the talks to resume. Do you also believe that Turkey’s actions in the eastern Mediterranean need to be stopped for talks to proceed?

First, I’ll make an assessment. That is, Turkey behaves in this aggressive and provocative way because it wants to blackmail us. On the one hand, Turkey wants us to return to the negotiating table, and on the other hand of course, it wants to succeed in ending our energy program. This is what the Turkey is saying publicly.

It is our view that all of this, if and when the preconditions for the resumption of substantive negotiations are created, will end. Turkey will have no choice. Some say this approach is naive. We have seen where the tactics they have implemented have led to. The tactics being proposed by all the rest (of the parties) lead to the further escalation of Turkey’s aggression and to a lukewarm and timid reaction on the part of the international community. Let’s pursue what AKEL proposes.

And if Turkey proposes that the energy program should be terminated…

But Turkey did propose it very recently. Turkish Foreign Minister Mr. Cavusoglou did say so publicly, and we said that this can’t be done. That is to say, we won’t accept to be prisoners of Turkey’s mood on this issue.

I’ll say it again. If the preconditions for the resumption of negotiations are created, our assessment is that Turkey will end its aggression. And if we go to the negotiations, we believe that the issues that remain open are ones that can be resolved soon, provided that there is political will expressed by everyone, and especially by Turkey.

That is why all issues in my view can be resolved provided that negotiations will resume.