The only way for us is the way of progress, cooperation and peace, the way of intensifying every effort to break the deadlock and to resume the talks on the Cyprus problem as soon as possible, President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, stressed on Saturday.
Speaking at the memorial service of EOKA hero Michalakis Paridis held at Vavla village in Larnaca district, President Christodoulides noted that in this critical period the government is focused on concrete planning with a view to resume talks and manage to terminate occupation, achieve the liberation and reunification of Cyprus, in order to form conditions of peace and perspective for the future.
'We are working', he said, "to achieve developments that will transform the European citizens of Cyprus into first-class citizens and not second-class citizens as they are today, since after so many years we are still deprived of basic human rights and basic freedoms in our own homeland.'
He explained that it is in this exact context that he considers that both the United Nations General Assembly in September, as well as the European Council in October are of decisive and pivotal importance for the efforts and the prospects of resuming the talks.
He sent the message "that under no circumstances will we compromise with the occupation and its tragic repercussions', reiterating that the government works intensively and methodically for a solution on the basis of the relevant United Nations resolutions, compatible with the EU principles and values and the acquis communautaire, a solution providing for a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation.
'A functional and sustainable solution that will finally make Cyprus a normal and functional state. A state that allows all its legal citizens to live in conditions of prosperity, security, mutual respect and the implementation of human rights for all, without exceptions,' he added.
Emphasizing that for breaking the deadlock and for achieving the resumption of talks, a strong internal front is an absolute prerequisite, the President of the Republic expressed satisfaction with the discussion and the results of the meeting of the National Council on Friday and welcomed the proposals made which, 'send messages, both internally, but especially abroad' in a critical juncture for the Cyprus problem.
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