Efforts to solve the Cyprus problem will be decisive in the next period of negotiations, President Nicos Anastasiades said on Tuesday addressing the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.
The President said he was “absolutely convinced” that should all parties, in particular Turkey, come up with a creative and constructive approach, the solution of the Cyprus problem could be achieved on the basis and within the framework of European principles and values.
He also reiterated his determination to work for a solution that will reunite Cyprus and will protect all citizens, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, while creating a modern state fully compatible with its status as an EU member state and would create the prospects for peaceful coexistence among the inhabitants of the island.
Referring to the efforts to solve the Cyprus problem in the last 20 months, he said that despite the remarkable progress, there are still differences and disagreements on a number of issues, most notably those involving property.
He also noted that during the recent months, the efforts of the government have focused on the debate on two key chapters, territorial adjustments and security and guarantees.
SECURITY AND GUARANTEES
In relation to the issue of security and guarantees, he said that anachronistic arrangements could only cause problems and could not be a response to any reasonable or unreasonable concerns of the parties.
The President added that the government has submitted a complete and comprehensive proposal, addressing the concerns of both communities.
The President also said that any military guarantees or intervention rights of any third country were not necessary anymore and were also an anachronism since, among other things, those rights affect the independence and sovereignty of a member state of the UN, the EU, the Council of Europe and many other international organisations and were in contrast to the UN Charter and international law.
He also said that whereas the current situation is completely different compared to 1960 or 1974, any presence of Turkish troops or Turkey’s guarantee rights after the solution would be an unbalanced arrangement for the Greek Cypriot community, because of the proximity and the military superiority of Turkey and would be considered a permanent threat against the Greek Cypriot community. He also referred to the risk of destabilising or strengthening secession movements and causing continuous deadlocks and destabilisation.
President Anastasiades also said that guarantees and intervention rights are incompatible with the basic principles of sovereignty and international legal personality governing each state, as would give the right to one of the states to invite a third country to intervene and violate the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of an independent and sovereign state.
CONVERGENCES ACHIEVED
Regarding the convergences that have been achieved at the negotiating table, President Anastasiades said that the structure of the Republic will evolve on the basis of a bizonal, bicommunal federation with political equality for both communities.
He added that the independence and territorial integrity of a united Cyprus is fully guaranteed under the international law, the UN Charter and the European acquis.
The President said that there will also be constitutional provisions that strictly prohibit secession or union of part or whole to any third country.
To ensure bizonality, he noted each of the constituent states will have defined administrative boundaries.
President Anastasiades also said that to ensure the bicommunal nature and political equality, intervention of the federal government on issues of responsibility of states or a state intervention on issues under the federal government is prohibited.
CYPRUS WILL WORK INTENSIVELY IN COE PRESIDENCY
Referring to the Cyprus Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the CoE, he said that Cyprus will work even more intensively to highlight the role of the Council of Europe in meeting the major challenges facing Europe today.
“The major challenges facing Europe today, the economic crisis, terrorism, migration flows have fostered insecurity and uncertainty feelings to the citizens. They have unfortunately reintroduced disturbing phenomena such as xenophobic rhetoric and hate speech, the rise of populist and extremist elements,” he said.
The President also noted that “given the challenges that Europe is currently facing, it is time to engage in a creative dialogue with the citizens, to listen to their concerns and seek to jointly tackle them.“
He added that through policies and actions “we need to put into practice the concept of active citizenship and in this direction we consider particularly important the role of education and, more specifically, of democratic civic education, as recorded in the priorities of Cyprus Presidency.”
The President also expressed his complete satisfaction and his warmest thanks because the Parliamentary Assembly has adopted resolutions and recommendations to restore the law and the peaceful resolution of the Cyprus issue.
Source: CNA
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