Newsroom / CNA
The Greek Cypriot side is ready for negotiations, even tomorrow, on the condition that the basis of any initiative must be the agreed framework and the decisions of the Security Council, stated on Sunday the Deputy Government Spokesperson, Yiannis Antoniou.
According to a presidency press release, speaking to the press after the memorial service for the heroes of the Neo Chorio Kythrea community in Aglantzia, Antoniou was asked about the upcoming meeting between President Christodoulides and the UN Secretary-General where he said "the President of the Republic is ready, has conveyed this readiness, and will discuss with the UN Secretary-General the next steps, what Mr. Antonio Guterres himself is thinking, and we will respond accordingly."
"The Greek Cypriot side is ready for negotiations, even tomorrow, on the condition that the basis of any initiative must be the agreed framework and the decisions of the Security Council because, for us, any effort that serves any other objective—whether it is for two states, sovereign equality, or the 'three A's' that Mr. (Ersin) Tatar promotes, such as direct flights, direct contacts, and direct trade—cannot be accepted," the Deputy Government Spokesperson added.
"We are cautiously optimistic," he said, yet "we are realists" adding that the "other side leaves little room for optimism, but we have an obligation to exhaust every negotiating possibility."
He also said that the passage of time creates and solidifies the faits accomplis on the ground, as well as in people's minds. "As we move further away from 1974, entirely new conditions are being created. We are realists and want to take advantage of every opportunity available, or even create one if it doesn't exist, hence the initiative before us is based on our own actions. The situation is difficult, but we will strive for the best," he noted.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results.
The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively.
