The Greek Cypriot side mustn’t confine itself to expressing wishes, but take initiatives to promote the prospect of resuming the negotiations

Statement by AKEL C.C. Spokesperson Stefanos Stefanou

AKEL C.C. Press Office, 18 September 2018, Nicosia

Yesterday, the President of the Republic, during his meeting with the Greek Prime Minister expressed the wish for “a creative dialogue to resume on the Cyprus problem, as long as the UN Secretary-General considers that the preconditions exist”.

We hope that the Greek Cypriot side will not just express wishes in relation to the creation of the prospects for a resumption of the negotiations. The Greek Cypriot side should already have conveyed to the UN Secretary-General that it is fully in line with the preconditions he himself has set for a resumption of the negotiations. We hope that the President of the Republic has done so during his meeting with the Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General on Cyprus Mrs. Lute.

For the UNSG Mr. Guterres to decide the resumption of negotiations, it is imperative that there must be a positive response from all the involved parties on the Cyprus problem. The positive response of the Greek Cypriot side alone isn’t enough. If the UN Secretary-General considers that this response does not exist, it is very important to the Greek Cypriot side that in the Report that will be drawn up there won’t be any responsibilities whatsoever apportioned to it.

Against the backdrop of the processes and imminent developments surrounding the Cyprus problem, the Greek Cypriot side mustn’t confine itself to expressing wishes, but take initiatives and work actively to promote the perspective of resuming the negotiations. It is also important, with continuity and consistency, to send out clear messages. The President’s statement about a “repositioning of the Cyprus problem on the correct basis, with regards aspects that matter for the future” instead of transmitting clear messages, raise questions and leave room for ambiguities.