Turkey’s intransigence has reached its top, President of the Republic Demetris Christofias said on Wednesday, noting that Ankara continues to threaten Cyprus, which has assumed the Presidency of the Council of the EU.
Speaking to a group of expatriate teachers from the United States, who visited him at the Presidential Palace today, Christofias noted that despite of the Turkish threats, “we fulfill our institutional obligations as an EU member state and we carry on with the exercise of the Presidency of the Council of the EU”.
President Christofias briefed the teachers on the Cyprus problem, noting that “there are no developments, there is a standstill due to Turkey’s intransigence which is at its peak”.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. The leaders of the two communities in Cyprus, have been engaged in UN-backed talks, with the aim to reunite the island under a federal roof.
President also stressed that instead of showing respect to the Cyprus Republic which presides over the Council of the EU, Turkey keeps on threatening Cyprus.
As regards the Cyprus Presidency, Christofias said that our European partners have praised us “for the organizing level as well as for our hospitality”.
There is no positive development in the Cyprus problem due to the Turkish intransigent and insensible policy, Cyprus President Demetris Christofias has said.
Speaking during a meeting he had on Wednesday with Mayors of the Turkish occupied municipalities of Kyrenia, Laphithos, Karavas and representatives of women’s organizations of Kyrenia, Christofias assured the legal inhabitants of Kyrenia and all the people of Cyprus that “our side is defending the fundamental principles for a solution to the Cyprus problem, including the restoration of human rights and the refugees right to return back to their homes.”
Christofias noted that there has been a setback at the negotiations on the Cyprus problem since Dervis Eroglu took over the leadership of the Turkish Cypriot community, adding that the Greek Cypriot side cannot accept the fait accompli.
He also warned that the negotiations must not resume from scratch, because this will mean the partition of the island.
Christofias said that the Turkish side has been very arrogant and has become even more intransigent due to the fact the Republic of Cyprus has undertaken the EU rotating Presidency since July 1st.
Turkey, which aspires to join the EU, does not recognize the Republic of Cyprus, an EU member state since May 2004. Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37% of its territory.
Christofias said that the assumption of the EU Presidency by Cyprus is a boomerang against Turkey, adding that Cyprus is a sovereign state, an EU member in its whole and that is why Turkey’s and Eroglu’s reactions are not effective.
Christofias also noted that the Turkish military forces still have a say on the Cyprus problem.
He said that since Eroglu became the Turkish Cypriot leader he has denied to act in accordance with any responsibilities and commitments that were previously undertaken by former Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat
Furthermore he stressed that the Greek Cypriot side cannot accept the Turkish position for two states in Cyprus, adding at the same time that the Cyprus settlement will be a compromise which will, even gradually, restore the human rights of all Cypriots.
Referring to the UN role, Christofias said that this is the role that has been dictated by the balances in the international community.
UN-led direct negotiations between the leaders of the two sides in Cyprus, aiming at a Cyprus settlement, began in September 2008.
