The Presidential Palace has removed the word bicommunal bizonal federation from its vocabulary

Statement by Toumazos Tsielepis, AKEL Political Bureau member

13 March 2019, Astra radio station

The Turkish Foreign Minister cannot be saying that all options are on the table of dialogue in relation to the Cyprus problem, Toumazos Tsielepis stated.

The member of the Political Bureau of AKEL and Head of the Cyprus Problem Office of the Party pointed out speaking to ASTRA radio station that what the Greek Cypriot side should do is to stress that the solution of Bi-zonal Bi-communal Federation is on the table, which however, he underlined, the Presidential Palace has removed from its vocabulary lately.

Mr. Tsielepis recalled that President Anastasiades has repeatedly said that if a federal solution isn’t found, then no one forbids him from thinking about other ideas too. The member of AKEL’s Political Bureau pointed out that talks can’t resume on the Cyprus problem outside the Guterres framework, whether likes Turkey likes it or not.

He stressed the importance of finally agreeing to the terms of reference. Furthermore, Mr. Tsielepis noted that the talks will not resume before June, but pointed out that by then the terms of reference must be set out for the procedure to begin.