The President of the Republic, Mr. Nikos Christodoulidis, expressed today the hope that there will be a response from Turkey regarding the appointment of an envoy of the Secretary General of the United Nations, noting that our side is not afraid of talks.
In his statements to the journalists coming to the OEB Offices for the Annual General Assembly of the Pan-Cypriot Association of Land and Building Development Entrepreneurs, the President of the Republic said that "the Minister of Foreign Affairs has been in Israel since last night, precisely within the framework of the consultations that take place in particular from Israel to implement the proposal of the Republic of Cyprus which is supported by the European Union and international organizations. Let me remind you that we also discussed the issue with the Secretary General of the United Nations and are in contact with the UN Organizations involved in the humanitarian aid mission to Gaza so that the details can be discussed. There will be trips to the region in the near future, the President of the European Commission is also going to Egypt and Jordan, and we are working towards the implementation of the proposal of the Republic of Cyprus".
When asked how Israel treats the proposal of the Republic of Cyprus, President Christodoulidis said that "the results are positive, Israel sees the need for the existence of this humanitarian aid mission.
There are some issues raised by Israel, and the Republic of Cyprus can ensure, especially on the issue of security – it was also raised the first time I went to Israel after Egypt, so that groups from Israel were in Cyprus together with the Security Authorities of the Republic of Cyprus, to control humanitarian aid. We are specifically talking about the place of arrival, the reception, the distribution of humanitarian aid inside Gaza, that's why I said that the UN is also involved because it is UN organizations that will take over the distribution of the humanitarian aid that will arrive in Gaza."
When asked, he said that "the Republic of Cyprus is the only one that submitted a specific plan, a 25-page document, which touches on all aspects. A text that is in progress on the basis of the consultations that are taking place".
Asked if the Minister of Foreign Affairs will meet with families of hostages in Israel, the President of the Republic said that it is not something he rules out although he does not know the program of the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
When asked about the meeting he had earlier today with a delegation of the Pan-Cypriot Bar Association, the President of the Republic said that "a formal meeting was planned with the new Council of the Pan-Cypriot Bar Association, during which, however, we also discussed issues related to how we can reach the common goal of fast, efficient and effective justice and the decision of the Government to be implemented for the establishment of a single supervisory mechanism. An idea for which we are preparing a relevant draft and we will discuss with the Bar Association specifically about the bill, but also with the accountants. It is a decision of the Government that has already been taken and we will proceed."
Asked about the issue of the appointment of an envoy by the UN Secretary General, the President of the Republic said that "the Turkish side has already rejected a personality that we had accepted. We await the recommendation of the General Secretary which, as he has told us, will be in the next few days and we are ready to work with the personality appointed by the General Secretary, so that the prospects for the resumption of talks are created.
We are not afraid of the talks, we know very well what we are seeking through the talks and I hope there will be a response from Turkey as well."