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"The United Nations has informed us that the situation in the buffer zone in Agios Dometios will be restored, but in case it is not, we have taken some decisions which will be implemented, but we will not make them public", the President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, said tonight.

In his remarks to journalists, upon arrival at the presentation of the book by Costas Hadjikostis at the University of Nicosia, the President of the Republic was asked to refer to the new incident of provocation by the Turks in Agios Dometios: "This is a very serious violation. The United Nations (UN) has informed us that the status quo will be restored. If it is not restored, we have already taken some decisions which will be implemented, but will not be made public. But, I repeat, the UN has informed us that the situation will be restored. This is an incident that we are neither downplaying nor underestimating and decisions have been taken, which will be implemented if the situation is not restored."

Asked if the government is concerned about the situation, the President replied: "Of course we are concerned. It is a long-standing policy of the occupying army to contest the buffer zone. Let me remind you of what happened in Strovilia, let me remind you of other incidents. This attitude is longstanding. We have given the United Nations, they have asked us, for a 24-hour period. Immediately afterwards, decisions were taken, which will be implemented, they will not be made public."

In response to a journalist's remark that the Turks continue with the same pattern while our side is constantly trying to resume negotiations on the Cyprus problem, President Christodoulides said: "This approach (of the Turks) is longstanding without downplaying or underestimating. I mentioned Strovilia earlier, there are many other incidents that we see. Despite all this, we will do everything possible to resume the dialogue. You understand that the current state of affairs, the passage of time, the creation of new faits accomplis, such as the ones we are experiencing, do not help to resolve the Cyprus problem. So, on our part – it is our country that is under occupation – we will do everything possible to create conditions for the resumption of the talks."

Asked whether the lifting of the faits accomplis is a precondition for the resumption of the dialogue, the President of the Republic said: "The lifting of the faits accomplis is a precondition for decisions taken on the part of the Republic of Cyprus not to be implemented, as I mentioned earlier."

Asked whether humanitarian aid for Gaza will reach Cyprus, the President said: "We have already been informed by some countries that wish to send humanitarian aid to Gaza through the Republic of Cyprus. Our plan is for sea transport, the creation of a maritime humanitarian corridor. It was something that I discussed yesterday with the Emir of Qatar - you know the role of Qatar in general in this crisis - and we are receiving requests from countries so that they can bring humanitarian aid here and from here it can be transferred to the Palestinians."

Asked when this plan will be implemented, President Christodoulides said: "Things are continuously developing regarding this particular issue."

(RM/AP/EP)