Cyprus President: Solution needs to be accepted by all Cypriots

Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades focused on important issues that deal with the four chapters in the Cyprus problem, in a speech made at the Presidential Palace on Friday.

The President said that he wants to give answers to the ongoing Cyprus discussions and the four chapters, “Which in my opinion concern or preoccupy the public.

“The new order, as it has been established since 1977 and which has been the framework for negotiations for all my predecessors, involves the transformation of the internal structure of the State of the Republic [only the internal state structure] from a unitary to a federal system of government, a bizonal, bicommunal federation,” he said.

NO CONFEDERATION

Anastasiades has clarified that the solution does not involve any form of confederation – a concern expressed by some members of the public – but will instead be a federation.

He added that the joint communique of February 11, 2014 has also outlined the federal nature that Cyprus will have after a solution, and that there will be two states on the island with an equal status, through the single federal constitution.

THREE BASIC VALUES ALREADY SECURED

Anastasiades added that in the negotiations to date, it is clear that three basic values have been secured: a single and permanent international character, a singular sovereignty, and a singular nationality.

“This progress is, in some cases, to the benefit of all the Cypriot people, and has comparable provisions to those of the 1960 constitution, or other initiatives and negotiations on the Cyprus problem,” he said.

NEGOTIATIONS ATTEMPT TO ESTABLISH EFFECTIVE CO-GOVERNANCE

The President has mentioned that in negotiations significant progress has been made in the chapters of co-governance, power sharing, EU, economy, and to a “smaller degree” property.

He said that in the negotiating framework, a strong, effective, and functional system of governance is being sought, after a list of powers has been formulated, which will include relations of the state with the EU, defence policy, management of natural reserves, the conduct and security of the land, sea, and aerial borders, as well as immigration policy.

Anastasiades mentioned that the key components of the federal constitutions is to assure that the powers of the state are extended in day-to-day life to all citizens.

“I am mentioning that in this context as agreed, each of the states, will have exclusive jurisdiction among other things, to maintain its own independent social security system, its own health system, its own education system, and its own local government,” he said.

Each state, he added, will be able to secure its specific ethnic, cultural, and religious character, as it pertains to the communities.

STATES WILL NOT BE REQUIRED TO PAY EACH OTHERS’ DEBTS

Anastasiades has said that under the agreement for financial stability, which will be governed by the federal government, an obligation will be provided, where each of the states will secure its financial sustainability, no state will be required to pay the financial debts another state creates.

“Both for the protection of business and the economic activity of citizens, there will be strict rules ensuring fair competition, and to safeguard European product certification standards and services,” he said.

EU MEMBERSHIP OF DECISIVE IMPORTANCE

“Of decisive importance to achieve important convergences is our state’s recognition as a member state of the European Union, and the need to have the basic parts of a solution include the EU acquis, something we have been able to achieve with its [the EU’s] more active role at the negotiating table,” he mentioned.

The President added that maintaining the EU character has made it necessary to agree on human rights and basic freedoms, which will be strictly regulated.

SOLUTION FRAMEWORK SPECIFICS

Anastasiades has highlighted some of the specifics of a solution, saying that:

1. Each citizen will be able to move freely in all of Cyprus, without any limitations

2. Each individual will have the right to choose where he/she lives, as the right of property will be secured. People will be able to freely practice a profession and business activities wherever he/she chooses.

The President said that to secure the aforementioned rights, it has been accepted that voting rights will be regulated if the individual comes from the other state.

Another of the political convergences, he mentioned, is the demographic character of Cyprus. The President said that it will reflect with small deviations the demographic character of the Republic of Cyprus as it was established in 1960.

“The most important thing is that through the above arrangement, it is ensured, that in order to acquire Cypriot citizenship a Turkish national will have to be preceded by four of individuals of Greek origin,” he said.

IMPORTANT DIFFERENCES STILL EXIST IN PROPERTY ISSUE

Anastasiades has said that important differences have continued to exist on the property issue, but there has also been progress as the right to property has been recognised through certain processes and remedies including:

– Re-establishment
– Partial restoration
– Exchange of property
– Compensation

He added that to shield the property right, it has been secured that the owner – if not satisfied with the decisions made domestically – can file a case with the European Court of Human Rights.

BENEFITS FOR G/Cs AND T/Cs DISCUSSED

“For the first time there is an advanced dialogue on the need for the first day of a solution to provide benefits for all citizens, Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot,” he said.

The President added that in this framework they are discussing in a “spirit of common understanding”, among other things, for the first day to:

– Allow for the return of the sealed city of Famagusta to the lawful residents

– Allow for the immediate return of uninhabited areas in the buffer zone to the lawful owners

– Have a large number of the occupying forces leave the island

DIFFERENCES STILL EXIST

“As I have already said differences still exist and there are still different approaches to issues that have been discussed,” the President said, making reference to the core issues of Security/Guarantees and Territory.

He added that there is significant divergence in the positions of both sides.

“I want to hope that in the negotiations, which will be conducted starting on Monday in Switzerland, we will have progress, which will create a prospective for how we can proceed on the substantive discussions in the security and guarantees chapter,” Anastasiades said.

He mentioned that it is not enough to have a rhetoric developed for wanting a solution, nor is it enough to have a rhetoric of understanding for the concerns of the Greek Cypriots.

“It should be understood that a respectable solution to the Cyprus problem for all will be to the benefit of Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots. A solution that will not have allow for winners and losers,” he said.

TURKEY WILL ALSO BENEFIT FROM A SOLUTION

Anastasiades mentioned that a solution will be to the benefit of Turkey as well as the Turkish people.

He said that this is why he thinks that in current efforts it is important to have Turkey’s decisive contribution, and also the leadership of the Turkish Cypriot community.

“GOING TO SWITZERLAND WITH DECISIVENESS”

The President said: “I want to ensure that I am going to Switzerland with decisiveness, good will, and the necessary will, keeping in mind that a solution will have to respond to the prospects and the concerns of the Cypriot people.”