Press Releases

“Tomorrow's meetings with the leaders of Egypt and Jordan are crucial to the implementation of the Republic's initiative to create a maritime corridor for the provisions of humanitarian aid to Gaza,” the President of the Republic, Mr Nikos Christodoulides, said tonight.

In his statements to journalists, upon arrival at the General Assembly of the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) in Lefkosia, the President of the Republic was asked whether a reply has been given to the United Nations (UN) regarding the name of the personality to be appointed by the United Nations Secretary-General (UNSG) as his envoy for the Cyprus problem. The President of the Republic responded, “Not yet. We shall answer soon.”

Asked whether this person is a former Foreign Minister of a Latin American country, the President of the Republic stated, “She comes from a Latin American country, she is a lady, and we are waiting for developments. I believe the UNSG will possibly make an announcement this week."

In response to a journalist's remark that he has been invited by the UN in Cyprus to a social event where Mr Tatar will be present, the President of the Republic stated, “I am always open to any invitation, any meeting with Mr Tatar. I have invited him repeatedly for discussions and for a social meeting. I have nothing to worry about. I know very well what we are seeking through the negotiations, and rest assure I will make use of every opportunity I am given."

Asked to refer to his trip to Egypt and Jordan tomorrow, which is also related to the issue of the creation of a maritime corridor for the provision of humanitarian aid to Gaza, the President of the Republic said, “A great effort is being made and the great effort is acknowledged. As you saw, yesterday I was in Larnaka with the Americans. We are in contact with the European Commission, with France, with the neighbouring states. I consider tomorrow's meetings to be decisive in terms of the effort to implement (the Republic's initiative to create a maritime corridor). It seems - I hope to be proven wrong - that this situation, this unacceptable war situation will unfortunately drag on. I want to make an appeal for the protection of the civilian population; this must be the priority. And we want to be ready, if and when those conditions exist, to be able to implement the role we say we have, a role which we are highlighting through specific actions and initiatives.”

Asked about “visible and invisible” measures taken by the Government in relation to the incident in the buffer zone of Agios Dometios, the President of the Republic, inter alia, stated, “I see the irony from some people, not from you of course, about the non-visible and the visible. I call on those who are being ironic to visit the area. They have obviously not done so; they have not talked to the residents."

In response to a journalist's remark that the camera placed by the Turks is still there and operating, the President of the Republic replied, “Of course it is there. It is unacceptable, it is a violation but at the same time, we are doing, always within our own capabilities, what we have to do, with the safety of the residents as a priority.”

(GS/EP)