Turkey’s stance on the Cyprus issue does not leave room for optimism as regards the solution of the Cyprus problem, Government Spokesman Stephanos Stephanou has stressed.

Addressing Wednesday evening an event in Limassol to denounce the anniversaries of the coup and the Turkish invasion against Cyprus 15 and 20 of July 1974, the Spokesman said that “Turkey’s stance so far, as well as the statements made by Turkish officials, bearing in mind the last provocative statements by the Turkish Prime Minister in occupied Nicosia, do not leave room for optimism”.

Furthermore, he denounced Turkey’s policies on Cyprus, saying that they serve Ankara’s goal of partition and not of the reunification of the island.

“Turkey’s policy deepens the partition of the island, deepens the Turkish occupation” he stressed.

Specifically, he referred to Turkey’s policy of illegally bringing to Cyprus Turkish settlers, thus changing Cyprus’ demographic structure in the occupied areas of Cyprus, to the usurpation of Greek Cypriot properties as well as the destruction of Cyprus’ cultural heritage.

The Spokesman noted that “despite all the above, Turkey continuously accuses the Greek Cypriot leadership that it allegedly does not want a solution due to Cyprus’ accession to the EU”.

“Turkey blames others for the lack of solution in Cyprus in an effort to shift its responsibilities to others”, he underlined.

Stephanou said that Turkey, which occupies 37% of Cyprus` territory for 37 years now, should abandon its blame games and should fulfill its EU obligations, especially the ones concerning Cyprus.

He pledged that despite the difficulties faced at the negotiating table, President Christofias will continue efforts for a mutually acceptable solution, especially during the intensified Cyprus dialogue, as decided in the Geneva meeting between the leaders of the two communities in Cyprus and the UN Secretary General on July 7th, 2011.

“Our goal is to achieve a solution of the Cyprus problem the soonest possible. A solution, that would be just, under the circumstance, viable and functional, that would end the Turkish occupation, reunify the island and its people, on the basis of a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation, and a solution that would restore the human rights and fundamental freedoms for all Cypriots”, he concluded.

Meanwhile, Cyprus’ Permanent Representative at the UN, Ambassador Minas Hadjimichael, has denunciated the Turkish Prime Minister’s recent statements over Cyprus, calling on the United Nations to make note of these statements in the UN Secretary General`s report on his good offices in Cyprus, due to be delivered to the Security Council members early next week.

Cyprus’ Representative said that Erdogan’s statements subvert the agreed basis of the solution to the Cyprus problem and do not relay in any way with the UN Secretary General`s statement following the meeting in Geneva on July 7 between the UN chief and the leaders of the two communities in Cyprus.

According to diplomatic sources in New York, UN officials concurred that Erdogan’s statements are not in any way supportive of the efforts to solve the Cyprus problem, however it is uncertain whether these statements will be incorporated in the report.

Security Council members are due to be briefed by the UN Secretary General`s Special Advisor on Cyprus Alexander Downer end of August, on the Cyprus issue.

President of the Republic Demetris Christofias is engaged in direct talks with Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu, under the UN auspices, with a view to finding a negotiated settlement that will reunite the country under a federal roof. Cyprus has been divided since the 1974 Turkish invasion.

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