President of the Republic of Cyprus Demetris Christofias has reiterated his commitment to a bi-zonal, bi-communal, federal solution warning against any attempt to change the agreed base for the solution of the Cyprus problem as defined by the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions since this would offer Turkey the chance to officially place the two-state solution on the negotiation table.

President Christofias, who was speaking at a religious celebration of the refugees from the occupied by the Turks village Dikomo, said that all Presidents of the Republic of Cyprus were committed to a bizonal, bicommunal federal solution and made special reference to Papadopoulos-Talat agreement of 8 July 2006 and the joint statements of 23 May and 1 July 2008.

He added that bizonal, bicommunal federation, with political equality, as defined in the relevant resolutions of the United Nations with a single sovereignty, a single citizenship and a single international personality is the result of an agreement between the two communities since 1977 and has been reaffirmed in 1979 through high Level Agreements of the leaders of that time.

Preisdent Cristofias said he is convinced of the benefits from a possible solution to the Cyprus problem with the right context. He added that within a reunified Federal Republic, Cyprus people, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, Maronites, Armenians and Latins will live in peace and create a positive perspective for the future.

“Our aim remains the united Federal Republic of Cyprus to be the solid ground on which Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots will build a common future”, he added.

He furthermore assured that the Government would work with all its forces at all levels to persuade or press the intransigent Turkey to cooperate for a proper settlement.

The latest round of UN-led negotiations, which began in September 2008, has so far failed to yield results, due to continuing Turkish intransigence and insistence on a two-state solution, contrary to numerous UN resolutions providing for a bizonal bicommunal federation. The purpose of the talks is to find a negotiated settlement, acceptable to both communities on the island that would reunite the country, divided since the 1974 Turkish invasion.