Filenews 29 January 2022
Through the presentation of a comprehensive proposal to the European Council on the need for Initiatives on the part of Europe for the solution of the Cyprus problem and for the adoption of essential CBMs, which will firstly restore confidence in reality and secondly will pave the way for a new creative dialogue, the President of the Republic is attempting to lift the Cyprus issue off the ice.
"We do not cease to act in every way to ensure the rights of the legal residents of the enclosed city of Famagusta and other areas, the President of the Republic, Mr. Nicos Anastasiades, said today.
In statements to journalists and asked, he said that "from the beginning of the announcement by the Turkish authorities and their settler Mr. Tatar of an invitation to resettle the residents, owners of the properties in the enclosed area, we had warned that it was a trap. Hence the small area, the so-called pilot area, which after being diagnosed as not falling within the area where EFKAB illegally claims ownership was given as a first measure, as a lure to attract Greek Cypriots, in order to appeal to the committee.
The acceptance as an interested party of EFKAB, is nothing but a reconfirmation of a decision that was previously issued and that considered that EFKAB has ownership in the areas where it claims in the enclosed area. Therefore, caution is needed, despite the sirens that said the opposite today, those who called and insisted for the legal residents to appeal to a committee for supposedly reparations or restitution of ownership of their properties are contradicted."
Asked if the Government is concerned about this situation, he said that "because we are concerned, we do not cease to act in every way to ensure the rights first of all of those covered by resolutions 550 and 789, i.e. the owners and legal residents of the enclosed city and not only but also of the rest of the areas. We are taking initiatives and we will continue to insist through the diplomatic route that there is also vindication.
Asked about the issue of appointing a UNSG special envoy, President said that "there is nothing new. You are well aware that we had accepted the position of the SG, and the refusal of Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots also demonstrates who is responsible for the lack of dialogue, for the wreck of the occasional talks. I hope that the efforts we are making will come to fruition."
He added that the terms of reference to be given should be such that they would finally allow the creation of a climate or conditions for the resumption of dialogue so that at last a dialogue can be resumed that leads us to a workable, viable solution always on the basis of the Summit Agreements and the UN resolutions.
Asked what his next steps will be, President said that "it will be the presentation of a comprehensive proposal to the European Council on the need for initiatives on the part of Europe and for the solution of the Cyprus problem and for the adoption of essential CBMs that will firstly restore confidence really and secondly pave the way for a new creative dialogue".
When a journalist remarked that communities in the Limassol district are asking for assistance through an emergency allowance for altitude, President said that "the request is being examined, it seems that indeed based on the objective criteria as set, some injustices are created. The Ministry of The Interior is working on a plan for this purpose."
Asked about the issue of the Limassol stadium, the President said that "the assurances I had until yesterday from the construction company are that by June – July, the stadium will be delivered, the first phase of the road network will be completed and I want to hope that we will be happy and the whole of Cyprus will be happy for an ornamental stage for the city and for Cyprus".
Asked about the Tsirio stadium, President said that "since 2014, relevant funds have been allocated to make such interventions that ensure both the statics and the functionality of the stadium. He intervened repeatedly to the respective Board of Directors of the stadium. Only recently they have completed the notorious studies. I hope that soon when there will be a meeting at the Presidential Palace within the next ten days, there will finally be a logic on the part of the governors of Tsirios, so that we can move forward to turn it into a stadium of both football and sports.
