Serious consequences if the President continues to pursue the same policy

Statements by Yiorgos Loucaides, AKEL Political Bureau member and AKEL-Left-New Forces Parliamentary Spokesperson

“Dialogos” web site, 6 June 2018

The UN Secretary-General is not ready to proceed with the resumption of negotiations unless he is convinced that there is a willingness on both sides, AKEL’s parliamentary representative Yiorgos Loucaides stated. And this, he said, is clearly noted in the Report he submitted.

Regarding the willingness expressed by the Foreign Minister N. Christodoulides, Yiorgos Loucaides pointed out that the Minister’s statements are not in line with the statements of the President of the Republic and of the government spokesman.

Indeed he expressed the hope that the President is gradually changing his stand and that he has decided to act within the framework described by the Foreign Minister.

Yiorgos Loucaides stressed that if the President continues to pursue the same policy, the consequences will be serious. He added that it does not matter what the President and political parties say for domestic consumption purposes in Cyprus as to why the talks are not starting, but what does matter is what the international community, and in particular the UN Secretary-General believe, who in his Report praised Turkey for its stand at the Crans Montana conference.

He also recalled the recent statement made by EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini that last July the EU and Turkey worked hard for the solution of the Cyprus problem.

What matters, Yiorgos Loucaides said, is what we are doing today as the Greek Cypriot side for the resumption of the talks.

With regards the press reports concerning the opening of Famagusta, Yiorgos Loucaides expressed the wish that there won’t be such a fait accompli, which, he said, would undermine the solution of the Cyprus problem.