Christodoulides: "What was avoided at Geneva was also important"

In a televised interview with Euronews, he stressed the importance of Turkey’s presence at the meeting.

“Turkey’s role was the most decisive, you understand it and everyone knows it,” he said.

He then said that in this regard, the letter sent by European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and European Council president Antonio Costa to United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on the matter, stressing their commitment to a federal solution, was “very important”.

On this matter, he said later in the morning that when the European Council meets Guterres later on Thursday, “there will certainly be a discussion” about the Geneva meeting, as well as what follows it, as it is of “crucial importance for the future of relations between Europe and Turkey”.

“But, as you know, what was avoided was also very important,” he told Euronews.

He said Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar “had raised issues of cooperation in a number of areas which touch on state sovereignty” including hydrocarbons, water, and “some other issues”.

“However, I am glad that our position that such cooperation cannot be done was understood by [Guterres],” he said.

On this matter, he was referring to Tatar’s proposal for the creation of a “Cyprus cooperation council”.

Tatar had said in his press conference after the conclusion of Tuesday’s meeting that he had suggested the creation of such a council, adding that it would “allow for joint work on issues such as energy, electricity, interconnected networks, illegal migration, green energy, climate change, water resource management, and earthquakes”.

Christodoulides on Thursday said Tatar also “did not want the appointment of a new envoy”, and expressed his relief that one was appointed in the end.

The Cyprus News Agency had said on Tuesday it been informed by sources that Tatar had initially refused to acquiesce to the appointment of a new envoy, and that he was only brought round to the idea following consultations with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan.

Christodoulides said there had been an intention to “submit a document in relation to a two-state solution on the basis of public statements”, but that Guterres’ position on the matter “did not allow for such a thing”.

“So, it is not only the positives, it is also what has been avoided in this great effort, where the role of Turkey is of decisive importance,” he said.

He went on to say that Turkey is showing “intense interest” in European matters during the current period, and that in response to this, “the message of the European Union was clear: all of this can be examined through concrete developments on the Cyprus problem”.

On this matter, he added, “I look at the EU and I am particularly happy because the EU also sees two things from our side: our credibility, our political will, but also at the same time, the role the Republic of Cyprus plays more broadly.”

He also touched on the matter of the white paper on defence which was set to be discussed at the day’s European Council meeting, saying he is glad that on defence issues, “I see from all 27 member states a strong desire to finally move forward.”

The white paper discussion on defence will come amid a wider discussion on defence and armament, with EU member states set to decide whether contractors from the EU’s five “partner countries”, Turkey, the UK, Norway, Switzerland, and Canada, should be allowed access to the boosted funding.

The Cypriot government has been aligned with the French position, that they should not, while the German government has argued that they should.

Source: Cyprus Mail