The goal is to break the deadlock in the Cyprus issue through our contacts, said today the President of the Republic, Mr. Nikos Christodoulidis, emphasizing that he chooses not to get involved in a blame game with Ankara.
In his statements to journalists, on the sidelines of his visit to the "Pefkios Georgiadis" Primary School, the President of the Republic, when asked if he has drawn up a plan with recommendations on the role of the UN and how to break the impasse, said that "I want to greet, I see as a positive sign this interest that exists from the international actor, either from the UN and the EU.
I recently had a very good discussion with the President of the European Council, Mr Charles Michel, with whom I will have a personal meeting on 22 March.
Today's meeting with the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General in Cyprus, Mr. Colin Stewart, is preparatory to the meeting I will have with Ms. Rosemary di Carlo.
Our approach and aim is to involve the EU because we believe that the EU in the current international scenario, as it has been shaped in particular by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, may have the motivations to lead to a mutually acceptable, mutually beneficial state of affairs and we will invest there.
But under no circumstances outside the framework of the UN. I want to make it clear. We always talk within the framework of the UN.
And it is important that Lady Carlo will come, it is important that the Secretary General will be in Brussels, she will speak to all the heads of state and government of the EU member states on the issue of cooperation between the EU and the UN and the Cyprus issue is one of the issues on which there should be cooperation.
We can't waste time trying to break the deadlock, things aren't easy. I know very well the positions of the Turkish side, I listen and read the statements every day. I consciously choose not to engage in a blame game, blame etc. I choose to work through these contacts in particular with a clear goal of seeing how we can break the deadlock. It is not easy, but we will do everything possible and we believe that the EU can help decisively in breaking the impasse and in solving the Cyprus problem, which is the main issue".
Asked if he will meet with the UN Secretary General in Brussels and to a journalist's remark that the Turkish Cypriot leader has asked to see the UN Secretary General, the President of the Republic said that "I saw the intention of Mr. Tatar", adding that "there is no such at the moment fixed appointment, I will definitely see him on the sidelines of the European Council, but there is no fixed appointment".