Statements
by the President of the Republic - 28 November 2023 |
"The United Nations has informed us that the situation in the buffer zone in Agios Dometios will be restored, but if it is not, we have taken some decisions which will be implemented, but we will not make them public", the President of the Republic Nikos Christodoulides said tonight. In
his remarks to journalists, while attending the presentation of the book by
Costas Hadjikostis at the University of Nicosia, the President of the
Republic was asked to refer to the new incident of provocation by the Turks
in Agios Dometios: "This is a very serious violation. The United Nations
(UN) has informed us that the situation will be restored. If it is not
restored, we have already taken some decisions which will be implemented,
which will not be made public. But, I repeat, the UN has informed us that the
situation will be restored. This is an incident that we are neither
downplaying nor underestimating and decisions have been taken, which will be
implemented if the situation is not restored." Asked
if the government is concerned about the situation, the President replied:
"Of course we are concerned. It is a long-standing policy of the
occupying army to contest the buffer zone. Let me remind you of what happened
in Strovilia, let me remind you of other incidents. This contestation has
been happening over time. We have given the United Nations, they have asked
us, for a 24-hour period. Immediately afterwards, decisions were taken, which
will be implemented, they will not be made public." In
response to a journalist's remark that the Turks continue with the same
pattern while our side is constantly trying to resume negotiations on the
Cyprus problem, President Christodoulides said: "This approach (of the
Turks) is timeless without belittling or underestimating. I mentioned
Strovilia earlier, there are many incidents that we see. However, we will do
everything possible to resume the dialogue. You understand that the current
state of affairs, the passage of time, the creation of new faits accomplis,
such as the ones we are experiencing, do not help to resolve the Cyprus
problem. So, from our side - it is our country under occupation - we will do
everything possible to create conditions for the resumption of the
talks." Asked
whether the removal of the faits accomplis is a precondition for the
resumption of the dialogue, the President of the Republic said: "The
lifting of the faits accomplis is a precondition for decisions taken on the
part of the Republic of Cyprus not to be implemented, as I mentioned
earlier." Asked
whether humanitarian aid for Gaza will reach Cyprus, the President said:
"We have already been informed by some countries that wish to send
humanitarian aid to Gaza through the Republic of Cyprus. Our plan is for sea
transport, the creation of a maritime humanitarian corridor. It was something
that I discussed yesterday with the Emir of Qatar - you know the role of
Qatar in general in this crisis - and we are receiving requests from
countries so that they can bring humanitarian aid here and from here it can
be transferred to the Palestinians." Asked
when this plan will be implemented, President Christodoulides said:
"There are events going on all the time regarding this particular
issue." (RM/AP/EP) |