The G/C side has submitted constructive proposals, says President Anastasiades

Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades said on Sunday the Greek Cypriot side has submitted constructive proposals with regard to the efforts to solve the Cyprus issue and the representatives of the UNSG could use them to achieve a joint statement which will clear up issues of principle before resuming the dialogue.

Replying to questions on the sidelines of an event at the Archbishopric, President Anastasiades said that he does not wish to comment on the actions and stance of the UNSG’s Special Adviser to Cyprus. He said he will have the chance to talk about all this during Alexander Downer’s visit to Cyprus. “There is a lot that needs to be clarified once and for all”, the President underlined.

Asked when he will meet with the Special Adviser, the Cyprus President said that a meeting has been scheduled for November 6. He underlined that this was not going to be a joint meeting between Downer and the leaders of the two communities.

To a comment by a journalist that the Greek Cypriot side seems to be in a difficult position, President Anastasiades said that he does not feel like that. “I do not feel I am in a difficult position. What I insist is to create the conditions for an effective, well-prepared dialogue which will create the prospects for a solution that will be acceptable to both communities and which will not ignore either the demands and concerns of the Greek Cypriot side or the rights of Turkish Cypriot side”.

Asked if he will reply in writing to Ban Ki-moon, President Anastasiades said that he has already replied and if there is such a need he will provide a written reply.

“We have submitted constructive proposals which the representatives of the UNSG, if they want, can make utilize to achieve a joint statement which will clarify some principle issues and allow us enter as soon as possible a dialogue for a solution, based on the principles I have repeatedly mentioned”.

Asked to comment on a written statement of Dervis Eroglu on Sunday, stating that he shares the expectation of the UN Secretary General so that the date for the first leaders` meeting can be set and reiterating his position on the resumption of the talks without a joint statement, President Anastasiades stressed that he knows that this is the wish of Eroglu.

Eroglu’s latest statements on October 29^th are clearly about two sovereign states, Anastasiades said, noting this is why he is insisting on the clarification of basic and important principles from the outset, so that time is not wasted in an unproductive dialogue on whether – what is not disputed either by the UN resolutions and decisions – the new state of affairs, the solution as a result of the negotiations, will lead to the evolution of the Republic of Cyprus into a (federal state) with a single sovereignty, a single international personality and a single citizenship”, Cyprus President stated.

Asked if the issue of the joint communiqué remains a precondition for him, the President replied “certainly yes”.

Invited to comment on reports in the Turkish Cypriot press that the Greek Cypriot interlocutor has stated that the Greek Cypriot side agrees to the opening of Turkey’s EU accession chapters in exchange for Turkey’s implementation of the Ankara Protocol, President Anastasiades said that in 2006 the Republic of Cyprus vetoed six of the negotiation chapters of Turkey under the condition that Ankara fully implements the Protocol. “If Turkey implements the Ankara Protocol there will be no reason for us to refuse the opening of these chapters”, he added.

Concerned by the deadlock in the negotiations between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Friday expressed the hope that the two sides would overcome the impasse next week during a visit from his Special Adviser on Cyprus.

Cyprus has been divided since the 1974 Turkish invasion. UN-led talks are expected to resume in with a view to finding a negotiated settlement to reunite the country.