Anastasiades: Conference creates conditions for change of securities and guarantees
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
The outcome of the Conference on Cyprus which focused on security and guarantees, which started on Thursday in Geneva, creates the preconditions for a radical change of the security conditions that were in place in 1960, President of the Republic of Cyprus Nikos Anastasiades, has stressed.
In statements at a press conference in Geneva, President Anastasiades said that the fact that the UN press release, issued after the Conference on Cyprus, clearly describes the intention of the participants (at the Conference) to reach a mutually acceptable solution – as regards the aspect of security and guarantees – that will meet the expectations of both Cypriot communities, but particularly the fact that it is acknowledged that the security of one community cannot constitute a threat for the other community, “create the prospects and the terms of reference for the team of experts to work out new ways that would be acceptable and for radical change of what was in force based on the 1960 guarantees`.
President Anastasiades further said that for the first time a multi-party Conference on Cyprus was convened, in the presence of the EU, on the highest possible level, during which Turkey was for the first time engaged in a dialogue with the Republic of Cyprus, to discuss the abolition of the guarantees and the withdrawal of the Turkish occupation troops from Cyprus.
The presence of Turkish troops in the Republic of Cyprus does not secure conditions of peace, but conditions of instability, the Cypriot President stressed.
Furthermore, he said that what is important is that `we are at the negotiating table with Turkey and the other guarantor powers not to confirm the 1960 Treaties but to find a solution that would meet the concerns of all the people of Cyprus. And the concerns of the Greek Cypriot side are the presence of the occupation army, the Turkish guarantees. That is why the subject of the Conference was the discussion of the security and guarantees issue”.
The President added that the decision to continue the Conference on Cyprus shows that the issue of security and guarantees and the implementation of the solution, constitute the beginning of a substantive dialogue for the achievement of a solution, so that its outcome meets the expectations of the Cypriot people.
He stressed that the only comprehensive proposal which is before the Conference is the proposal submitted by the Greek Cypriot side which served as food for thought for all participants.
On Thursday, he said, `a dialogue began to change everything we knew until today` and added that his proposal includes matters relating to the internal or external security, as projected by the Turkish side, or ensuring a smooth and consistent implementation of what will be agreed or even ensuring constitutional order after the solution.
President Anastasiades noted that for the first time since 1974 the Turkish Cypriot side submitted a map on the territorial adjustments through which there is a significant percentage of Turkish occupied land returned under Greek Cypriot administration.
He stressed that although the map submitted by the Turkish Cypriot side does not meet the Greek Cypriot side`s expectations, nevertheless, bearing in mind the Greek Cypriot side`s proposal on territorial adjustments, it constitutes the basis for negotiation. He also said that the maps that have been published by some media are not the ones that are kept by the UN.
Invited to say when he believes that a final agreement will be found, he pointed out that never before have we had a discussion on the territory in the form it is discussed today and the submission of maps on behalf of the Turkish side, never before have we had Turkey sitting on the same table with the Republic of Cyprus, the Greek Cypriot side, the Turkish Cypriot side and the EU to discuss abolition, amendment, or withdrawal of its occupation troops.
`So, we are on a track that creates hope but this depends on the positions of each side`, he pointed out.
Replying to journalists` questions, the President said that there is no final date as regards the work that the working group of deputies on security and guarantees that will commence on 18 January to identify specific questions and the instruments needed to address them.
“This is the beginning of the dialogue”, he said, adding that the committee that has been established to examine the concerns and probably some suggested solutions, could lead to a conference on political level, on the highest maybe level, to discuss the decision. If there is no conclusion on that day, he said, then the dialogue will continue to achieve a convergence.
Moreover, he stressed that there is no difference of approach between Nicosia and Athens and warmly thanked the Greek government and the Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias for their excellent cooperation and support. He also thanked the UNSG, the EU Commission President and the EU High Representative, the political party leaders, his negotiating team and the Media for the coverage.
The reason why the Conference on Cyprus did not continue on Friday as well, is due to the fact that the Turkish Foreign Minister had to leave earlier for Turkey for internal issues, the Cypriot President said.
Asked if there is hope for a solution in Cyprus, he said that if Turkey did not want to cooperate, it would not have been present at the negotiating table. Hope is one thing and final outcome is an other thing, he said.
Replying to an other question, he said that if Greece and Turkey insisted on their positions there would not be any reason to establish a committee that will examine all aspects o the security issues, nor would there be a decision on behalf of the parties to discuss in order to reach mutually acceptable solutions, meaning that the Republic of Cyprus or the concerns of the Greek Cypriot community can not be ignored.
Referring to the EU role, he said that the EU will surely have a word so that the agreement reached will be compatible with the European acquis and the security policies of the Union.
During the Conference on Cyprus, he said, it was underlined that Cyprus is an EU member state and will always have this capacity thus the EU has a role to play. Asked if the EU can offer security, he said `of course it can` if and when there is such an agreement.
The Treaty on Guarantees, he noted, is a four – party treaty, but in essence a two-party treaty, between the Republic of Cyprus and the three guarantor powers (Greece, UK and Turkey).
President Anastasiades noted that the discussion on the internal aspects of the Cyprus issue and the aspect of security and guarantees give a momentum to the process. There are issues, he said, that will depend on the results of the discussion on security and guarantees, as well as on the progress on the territory chapter.
He defended his decision on the 1st of December 2016 for the Geneva talks to resume in January (9-11 of January on internal aspects of the Cyprus issue and 12 of January for the Conference on Cyprus to take place).
President Anastasiades said that his decision aimed at two goals, firstly to avoid a protracted stalemate and to finally determine the intentions of Turkish Cypriot side and especially Ankara`s intentions, regarding the chapters on territory and security and guarantees.
The outcome of the Geneva Conference reaffirmed that his decision on the 1st of December was the right one, he said, adding that through the dialogue in Geneva there has been further progress on the first four chapters of the Cyprus talks. But he pointed out that this progress does not entirely meet the expectations of the Greek Cypriot side.
The Republic of Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37% of its territory.
President Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci have been engaged in UN-led talks since May 2015 with a view to reunite the island under a federal roof.
CNA/RP/AAR/GCH 2017
ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY