President Christofias’ strategy regarding the Cyprus problem safeguards our reliability and is convincing of our genuine determination to reach a solution, Government Spokesman Stephanos Stephanou said on Sunday.

Addressing the memorial service for the first President of the Republic, the late Archbishop Makarios III, Spokesman said that President’s strategy is based on principles and pragmatism.

Stephanou said that bizonal bicommunal federation is the agreed basis for solution between the Greek Cypriot and the Turkish Cypriot sides since 1977 , adding that there must be no “wishful thinking” on that.
“All Presidents of the Republic proceeded with negotiations on the basis of this solution and this is what President Christofias does as well”, Spokesman said, noting that “moving away from a federal solution, will lead to abandonment of all UN Resolutions on which we base our efforts and therefore our struggle will be harmed”.
“Furthermore”, he said, “this will give the Turkish side the opportunity to cease responsibility and put forward a solution of two separate states in Cyprus”.

Stephanou also referred to life and work of Makarios III and noted that “we bear the responsibility to justify Cyprus and our people, we bear the responsibility towards those who left and the younger generations to liberate and reunify our homeland.“