Invited to the live web chat hosted by Famagusta.News Last Saturday, on the topic "Can Famagusta be saved" was the Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikos Christodoulidis who in an extensive speech answered questions from viewers and raised key issues on the issue of Turkish challenges, including the recent extreme challenges in the enclave.
In his opening remarks, the Foreign Minister thanked Famagusta.News for inviting him to participate in the online discussion and outlined four points to explain the developments.
"Negative separation and confrontation"
The Foreign Minister pointed out that the issue of property and Turkish provocations, as well as the Cyprus issue, does not concern only the people of Famagusta or those who have property, but the entire Cypriot people. He said that it would be a very negative development to distinguish between refugees and non-refugees, between Varosians and other refugees, between Varosians who have property in the enclosed area or outside the enclosed area and between those who chose or will choose to appeal to the Compensation Committee. and all those who disagree with such a perspective. Any segregation and publicly disparaging confrontation among Greek Cypriots would be the most negative, he said.
See the full online discussion here:
From 2019 the actions of the Government
Regarding the developments regarding the "picnic" Erdogan, he stated that on June 18, 2019, Mr. Ozersay made the first public statement on the subject, regarding the establishment of a group of experts that would enter the enclosed city. for recording the assets, real or not, making, in fact, a special public reference to the assets of the Vakoufis in the enclosed area. Eight days after Mr. Ozersay's first report on June 26, 2019, the President referred to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, who responded on August 7, reaffirming the relevant United Nations resolutions 550 and 789 in relation to Famagusta.
Read also: Famagusta.News's online discussion with the Minister of Foreign Affairs was successful (VIDEO)
This was followed, as he said, by a series of steps taken by the five Permanent Members of the UN, the EU, the institutions and the Member States, culminating in our appeal to the United Nations Security Council, which on 9 October 2019 after a debate At the request of the Republic of Cyprus, it issued a very clear statement stressing that absolutely no action should be taken in relation to Varosia, which is contrary to Resolutions 550 and 789. The issue continued to be a priority for the Government, using all available means at its disposal. our mood. It is in this context that, he said, the very important addition for the first time in July 2020 to the resolution for the renewal of the mandate of UNFICYP, special reference to resolutions 550 and 789.
The position of the Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikos Christodoulidis:
The "big picture" and Erdogan's revisionist behavior
As he said, then, "There is a great need to see the big picture in relation to the provocative actions of Turkey, including the tragic, offensive and provocative ones we saw in the enclave of Varos. In other words, from a political point of view, what is happening in the enclosed region is not at all irrelevant to the general revisionist behavior maintained by Turkey in the wider region. More specifically, the assessment of the international community, international analysts is that after 2016 and the failed coup in Turkey, Erdogan's review behavior aimed at 2023 and the completion of 100 years since the founding of modern Turkey by Kemal Ataturk has been strengthened. to make Turkey by 2023 the leading power in the region by reviving a neo-Ottoman view of things and at the same time having the role of leader in the Muslim world and the controversies that exist with specific Muslim states in the region are not accidental. I mention this because it is wrong to think that we can understand Turkey's policy in relation to Cyprus and the Cyprus issue, with or without knowing Turkey's policy in the wider region. In this context, the increase and the daily violation of the sovereign rights of the Republic of Cyprus, either with what is happening in the enclosed area, or with what is happening in the Dead Zone, or generally on land or at sea with what is happening in The Exclusive Economic Zone of Cyprus is part of Turkey's review policy in general but also in the case of Cyprus in particular through the attempt to create accomplishments that challenge the agreed form of solution of the Cyprus problem by promoting another form of solution that serves only Turkish and non-Turkish interests. ”
The suggestion of the former Judge of the Supreme Court and the former Judge of the Court of Justice of the European Union George Aresti:
The next steps
"We have two important milestones ahead of us. The first concerns the new initiative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations through Ms. Lut, which is expected to culminate in late November-early December with contacts, with visits to all parties involved to explore the prospect of holding an informal conference on Cyprus. The result of which will be the official announcement for a substantial resumption of talks from where they left off in Crans Montana with the aim of finding a solution within the agreed framework of the Bi-zonal Bicommunal Federation. I think what I said is crucial for a substantial resumption of the talks from where they left off in Crans Montana, because I remind you that in this acquis, that is, in the last negotiation process, among other things, the termination of any guarantees of Turkey's rights was raised. Withdrawal of the occupying Turkish army, as well as (and this is important) the property was discussed in relation to the territorial one, and in my map we exchanged with the Turkish Cypriot side, within an agreed framework of 1%. And it is important to mention that it was the conclusion of the Secretary General in Crans Montana that in addition to the areas they were returning to, including the enclosed area, Morphou should also be included. The end of this first milestone, the initiative of G.G. is crucial. The second milestone is the European Council on 10 and 11 December.
It is recalled that the European Council in October decided through the conclusions to express the readiness of the EU. for a positive approach for a positive agenda with Turkey for Euro-Turkish relations if and if Turkey meets specific conditions, including the issue of the enclave of Varos and also the settlement of the Cyprus issue. So far, in our view, not in our view, in the view of the EU, the EU Member States, Turkey has not only not responded positively to this positive EU call but has instead escalated its behavior. on various levels, beyond which we experience in the enclosed Famagusta, in Nagorno-Karabakh, in the field of Islamophobia and so on.
It was in this context that the recent statements were made by Borel, who is well aware of the issue of the inclusion, since, as he said, he had visited the region as President of the European Parliament, and it was in this context that the criticisms of Turkey public statements by the German Foreign Minister. The development of things until December 10 and the behavior of Turkey as it will be formed until the European Council will be evaluated by the leaders and they will decide what should be born. So the end of the two milestones I mentioned will be crucial for the future. "
Devaluation and property sales
Asked by a viewer, the Foreign Minister whether our side underestimated Ankara's intentions, because the Legal Service may not have guided the Greek Cypriots in time on what to do about the Famagusta issue and how it comments on the reports. The media that assets worth 300 million were already sold to the Turks for which about 200 million have already been paid, the Foreign Minister replied:
As the Minister of Foreign Affairs said, "There is no information on whether properties were sold in the occupied areas and whether the amounts have been collected. I am not a fan of an approach that takes advantage of Turkey's illegal actions to pursue a policy towards the Government. I have personally told you that June 18, 2019 was the first time that Mr. Ozersay made a public statement, after the end of the meeting of the so-called 'Council of Ministers' and on June 26 a letter was sent to the Secretary General. If there was a devaluation, none of this would happen and there would be no appeal to the SA. of the UN in October.
In addition, I would like to mention that the public report that there was a communication dimension was related to what we knew about Mr. Ozersay, who tried to secure Turkey's approval to enter the enclosed area with photographers and cameras, thus hoping that he would launch his election campaign. And let me remind you that at that time Turkey had not yet chosen who would be its favorite in the so-called "presidential elections", it decided much later.
Her decision not to support Mr. Ozersay also led to some differences between Mr. Ozersai and the issues surrounding the area. Let me remind you that he did not go to the August meeting in Turkey, when Mr. Erdogan invited all the leaders of the Turkish Cypriot right. Let me remind you that by participating in the so-called "government" he refused (always for his own reasons) to support the conversion of the enclosed area from a military zone that is now part of the so-called 'TRNC'. "
Referring to the issue of property in the enclosed Famagusta, he said:
The Legal Service is the legal advisor of the state and in this context, both the current and the former Attorney General, in all the cases that we asked as the Government to advise us, move within the framework of the positions given by Mr. Arestis. It is the same legal approach. I understand, at the same time, that there are some other legal approaches, any point of view is respected. The individual right to property is fully respected, but I repeat, the legal suggestions of the legal advisers of the Government, which is the General Prosecutor's Office, are the Legal Service, the Attorney General is identical with what Mr. Arestis said, whose experience I do not think should be we forget.
Asked by Nikos Christodoulidis about reports of possible recognition of the pseudo-state by countries such as Azerbaijan, or possibly the Saraj government in Libya or Pakistan, and the steps taken by the government at the diplomatic level to prevent such a move:
"In cooperation with the Greek government and the European Union, which I must say publicly has helped us significantly in this goal, we have made relevant steps and representations in a large number of countries, especially countries that come from the Muslim world, and have a special relationship with Turkey and with Mr Erdogan. The response we have had is that this kind of information that has come to light does not correspond to reality. But I repeat we do not rest, in cooperation with the Greek Government which has clearly more diplomatic missions than the Republic of Cyprus, but also the European Union which is represented all over the world, relevant steps are being taken. I reiterate the relevant assurances we have that these posts do not correspond to reality. "
Asked whether it is easy for the government to set up a committee for the Greek Cypriots to seek compensation for not appealing to the committee of the occupiers, he said:
"I can tell you, without going into this question, I can tell you that with the Attorney General, in recent meetings at both the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Presidential Palace, various legal options are already being processed, for which we expect to be raised. before us, various legal options for which specific suggestions are expected to be presented to the Government in collaboration with legal experts from abroad. I speak in general, to clarify it, not to create any wrong impression specifically on your question. When we have before us specific legal, suggestions, suggestions, approaches, we may be able to say more publicly. "
As to whether there will be sympathy with the Greek Government for the Turkish sanctions in the EU. stated:
"What is being done more is a conscious choice on the part of Turkey to present different approaches between Greece and Cyprus, something for which there is absolutely no case. Let me also say something about the sanctions and the results so far which some people are trying to devalue. It is not the fact that these two executives of the Turkish oil company have been included in the list of sanctions so far. We did not expect that inclusion. "
Asked if we would go with specific suggestions for sanctions he said:
"I would not like to talk about anything public about what will happen at the European Council in December, sanctions are not an end in themselves, our goal is how to reach a state of affairs that puts an end to Turkey's illegal actions. This is what is being sought, this is what we are trying to achieve in cooperation with EU Member States that have a particular interest in the Eastern Mediterranean. Beyond that, it's too early to talk about anything specific. "
He also sent a message to the inner front which does not appear to have a solid stance and position regarding the steps to be followed:
He mentioned thatThe attempt to resolve the Cyprus issue that reunites our country and gives us the opportunity to take advantage of all the prospects that our country has and because of the distorted state of affairs, due to the Turkish occupation, we can not do it. The resumption of talks from where they left off in Crans Montana is crucial. "
Finally, he stressed that the coming weeks are crucial to create the prospects for hope and optimism for the resumption of talks.
Famagusta.News