President urges UN to defend their resolutions and principles

President of the Republic of Cyprus Demetris Christofias has urged the Turkish Cypriot side to chance its stance and thus pave the way for the solution of the Cyprus problem.

In statements Friday at New York, where he will hold a two-day intensive meeting, on Sunday and Monday, with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu, President Christofias also called upon the UN to defend their principles and the UN resolutions on Cyprus.

“My appeal to the Turkish Cypriot side is to demonstrate understanding and change its positions to the better. My appeal to the UN and the UNSG is to defend principles and above all, to defend the UN resolutions“, he stressed.

President Christofias said that the Turkish stance leaves no room for great expectations as regards the New York meeting.

He said that after the July meeting between the two leaders with the UNSG in Geneva, Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot side began changing their positions in a negative manner on many important aspects of the Cyprus issue, mainly as regards the chapter on governance and expressed the view that statements made by the Turkish Cypriot side that the two sides are close to an agreement, are part of a “blame-game“ tactic.

“I had wished to be close to an agreement. However, we are not, and I hope that the UNSG will receive a correct information about the situation on behalf of his advisors“, he underlined.

Concluding, he expressed the wish that “real progress is achieved during this meeting“, noting that this can be achieved when Turkey changes its intransigent stance.

President Christofias arrived in New York, accompanied by Government Spokesman Stephanos Stephanou, Presidential Commissioner George Iacovou, and member of the negotiating team Toumazos Tselepis.

On Saturday, President Christofias is expected to receive Greek Foreign Minister Stavros Lambrinides, who is currently in New York where earlier this week he held a meeting with his US counterpart Hilary Clinton.

Meanwhile, member of the Cypriot negotiating team and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Nicos Emiliou held a series of meetings Friday with the Ambassadors of Russia and France as well as with Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations Lynn Pascoe.

The New York meeting will begin Sunday at the “Green Tree” mansion, in Long Island with a working lunch in the presence of UNSG, followed by negotiations between the two sides, under Downer.

During the meeting, the UN Secretary-General is expected to review progress reached in all core issues that were discussed in the framework of intensive direct talks for a Cyprus solution, and decide on the way forward.

The Secretary-General will make statements to the press on Monday evening, upon the conclusion of the meeting.

This will be the forth meeting with the Secretary-General. The first took place in November 2010, followed by two more meetings held in Geneva on January 26 and July 7, 2011, during which both sides reaffirmed their commitment to finding a comprehensive solution as soon as possible, while in Geneva, on 26 January 2011, the sides agreed to intensify the negotiations.