Government Spokesman Stephanos Stephanou said on Friday that Turkish and Turkish Cypriot media had distorted statements by President of the Republic of Cyprus Demetris Christofias and that the President would be sending a letter to Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu, who had commented on the distorted remarks.

Turkish and Turkish Cypriot media reported that President Christofias had said the Greek Cypriot side was ”ready for war,” during a visit to an army camp.

”There has never been such as statement on behalf of the President of the Republic,” Stephanou pointed out, noting that ”the President of the Republic will be sending a letter to Mr. Eroglu about this.”

In a written statement, Stephanou notes that President Christofias, in his remarks at the army camp, ”stressed a few times that we are working for a peaceful solution of the Cyprus problem and that the National Guard must be ready to be used only as a preventive force, if and when necessary.”

Stephanou points out that Eroglu made comments that ”damage the negotiating process and the political atmosphere that is necessary in efforts to reach a solution.”

”Leaders cannot respond to distorted and/or inexistent statements,” he added, noting that Eroglu was causing unnecessary unrest, ”unless that is the aim.”
Source: Cyprus Weekly