Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides welcomed on Saturday the official appointment of Maria Angela Holguin Cuellar as UNSG personal Envoy on the Cyprus problem.
In statements to the press following the celebrations for the Epiphany in Larnaca, Christodoulides said he considers the appointment as ‘particularly important,’ recalling that since the assumption of his duties he worked very methodically to this end.
Noting that the appointment is included in the Secretary-General’s report on his Good Offices Mission, the President pointed out that ‘this a response to any concerns on where we are heading.’
‘What I can state is that, as far as our side is concerned, and will brief the National Council (top advisory body to the President on the Cyprus problem) on Monday, is that I will do everything possible for a possible outcome in the process,’ he said.
Noting that he is not disregarding the difficulties, he added ‘we are here to tackle all difficulties and problems because there is no other choice than the
solution of the Cyprus problem on the basis of the agreed framework.’
The President refrained from commenting on the remarks made by the Turkish Cypriot leader, Ersin Tatar, noting that these statements are well known.
‘All of us will be judged on the discussion table,’ he added.
Furthermore, President Christodoulides said that Antonio Guterres’ report could be better with regard to the violation by the Turkish side in the buffer zone.
‘Surely, the report could be better, particularly concerning the reference on the violations in the buffer zone,’ he said, adding that the traditional equidistance approach by the UN is continuing.’
The President also recalled that he contacted the UN Chief over the violations of buffer zone, as ‘this is something which concerns us particularly.’
‘This, among others, is one of the fait accompli created by the elapse of time and for this reason in 2024, which marks 50 years since the Turkish invasion and occupation, we will do our outmost to reunify out island,’ he went on
to say
Furthermore, Government Spokesman Constantinos Letympiotis also welcomed the appointment of Holguin-Cuellar as the UN SG’s personal envoy noting that this is a very positive development.
‘With sincere political will to contribute constructively so that conditions for the resumption of the talks from they were left-off aiming at a viable and comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem on the basis of a bi-zonal bi-communal federation,’ he said.
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.
Source: Cyprus News Agency