Our goal remains for Cyprus to develop into a normal state, far from guarantees, far from invasive rights, far from the permanent presence of Turkish troops, said on Wednesday night the President of the Republic Nikos Anastasiadis.
Welcoming the event for the United Nations International Day at the Presidential Palace, the President of the Republic stated that our stated goal, to which we remain committed, is to achieve a comprehensive, sustainable and lasting solution that leads to the withdrawal of foreign troops and the creation of a truly independent state, which will respond to the will and concerns of its citizens, without dependence on third countries.
Referring to the Cyprus Conference in Crans Montana, Switzerland, he said that "despite what has been said to the contrary, it has not been possible to deliver what was expected due to Turkish intransigence, ie Turkey's insistence on the continuation and preservation of guarantee and invasive rights." ", but also in a position that is completely unacceptable, in maintaining you a permanent military expedition on a Turkish base".
Noting that "this is not the vision for our country", he said that "our goal remains for Cyprus to develop into a 'normal state', as the Secretary General himself aptly described it, far from guarantees, far from invasive rights. away from the permanent presence of Turkish troops in Cyprus ".
He went on to say that "as has been repeatedly said and agreed with Mr. Akinci, what should be a guarantee for one community should not at the same time be a threat to the other."
A position of principle, he said, accepted by the UN Secretary General and is included in the parameters as formulated on June 30, 2017 at the recent summit on Cyprus in Crans Montana.
He assured that, despite the failure, his position was and remains that the continuation of the dialogue for the settlement of the Cyprus problem is the only possible way.
"I insist and I have already told the UN Secretary General, the Permanent Members of the Security Council and our European partners that I am ready at any time to return to the negotiating table and continue the discussion of the internal aspects of the Cyprus issue," he added.
Saying that this is not enough, he said that in order to have results, we need a good preparatory effort regarding the international aspects of the Cyprus issue, that is, the final settlement of the Cyprus security issue, "which should not be held hostage by anyone".
Referring to the UN, the President expressed his gratitude on behalf of the Cypriot people for the United Nations offer to Cyprus and wished "soon the presence of the Cyprus Peacekeeping Force is no longer necessary, as we the citizens of Cyprus will be able to to trust each other, we will be able to work together for the future of our homeland. To be able to decide on what concerns our homeland ".
"A homeland built on the agreed federal framework, which can be a functional and effective part and member of the international community and the European Union, which will respect all the human rights of all legal citizens of Cyprus," he said, adding that "I wish indeed, the presence of any peacekeeping or third force in our country should not be required as soon as possible ".
He also noted that the Republic of Cyprus, which has been a full member of the United Nations since 20 September 1960, remains committed to the universal ideals of the Organization as guardian of the international legal order, actively participating in the work of the Organization, while with a multidimensional foreign policy, which is based on the excellent relations it maintains with almost all neighboring countries, contributes, always to the best of its ability, to the peace, stability and development of the wider region.
"We have drawn up a credible and comprehensive strategy at international and regional level, in order to take advantage of Cyprus' participation in the European Union and, most importantly, in the United Nations, always taking into account the geostrategic position of the Republic of Cyprus in the region," the President continued.
At the same time, he said that "we have upgraded our relations with all neighboring countries, establishing institutionalized mechanisms of cooperation with Greece, Israel, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and Palestine."
He also referred to the recent signing of the Permanent Structured Defense Cooperation in the EU (PESCO), saying that we are proving that we remain at the core of the Union's developments.
"In the same European context, our active participation in the Summits of the seven Mediterranean Member States of the European Union, whose next meeting is expected to take place in Cyprus, is included," he concluded.
Source: KYPE
Source: RIK News