Cyprus Government Spokesman Daily Briefing, 03-12-19

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Daily briefing of the Press by the Government Spokesman

19 December 2003

At the beginning of today's briefing of the Press, the Government Spokesman Mr Kypros Chrysostomides stated, inter alia, that the statements made by Mr Weston during his last visit to Cyprus were somewhat unfair in that Mr Weston treated all sides equally and the willingness of the Greek Cypriot side for the immediate resumption of the talks was not indicated.

"The international pressure must be clearly directed to the side that has done injustice due to the continuation of the illegal occupation and the intransigent position it has taken until today," Mr Chrysostomides said.

Mr Chrysostomides also made reference to the statement made by the President of the Security Council, in which he underlined that any secessionist actions by the occupation regime were illegal and illegal right from the start. At the same time, Mr Chrysostomides said that the President of the Security Council also made reference to the pressure that was exerted on Turkish Cypriot voters in the last so-called elections in the occupied areas of the Republic, and also that the Security Council continued to believe that securing a comprehensive settlement on the basis of the detailed proposals of the UN Secretary-General and accession to the EU of a reunited Cyprus. The Government Spokesman noted that those were also the goals of the Greek Cypriot side.

Mr Chrysostomides also recalled the Resolution that was adopted by the European Parliament the day before which reiterated, in essence, the conclusions of the Salonica European Council and called upon Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot leadership to demonstrate their willingness for the recommencement of the negotiations on the basis of the Annan Plan, by adding that the solution of the Cyprus problem would also facilitate Turkey's accession to the EU.

Mr Chrysostomides was asked to comment on the letter that President Papadopoulos had sent to the UN Secretary-General. However, the Government Spokesman refused to make any comments on the content of the letter. Asked whether Mr Annan had changed his position since his Report at the Hague, by which he asked both sides to put the Annan Plan to a referendum, Mr Chrysostomides said that it did not seem to be so.

"I must say however that the request for fixing a date to carry out the referendum is a condition that has not been fulfilled in view of the fact that there isn't currently a clear content or a final solution plan which can be justifiably put before the citizens for a referendum" Mr Chrysostomides said.

Asked to comment on a journalist's remark that either Mr Weston did not conceive President Papadopoulos' positions or simply believed what he actually stated, Mr Chrysostomides said he believed Mr Weston was referring to the Turkish Cypriot side when he was making his statements since the position of the Turkish Cypriot side was very well known and that Mr Weston avoided from stating so. "This has not been the position of the EU or of Mr Verheugen" the Government Spokesman added.

Asked to comment on a journalist's remark that the Greek Cypriot side was asking the UN Secretary-General to change one of his conditions, Mr Chrysostomides denied the allegation and added:

"I have said that this condition cannot be fulfilled in the sense that it is a premature condition. This statement is not related to the content of the letter by President Papadopoulos".

Asked to comment in what sense Mr Weston was being unfair, Mr Chrysostomides said that he let others understand that the two sides were on equal ground regarding their positions for the resumption of the talks.

Mr Chrysostomides then stated that President Papadopoulos had received a letter from Mr Annan regarding the issue of the missing and that an identical letter had also been sent to Mr Denktash. Mr Chrysostomides said that Mr Annan submitted suggestions for the recommencement of the investigatory procedure and the implementation of the decision of 31st July 1997. Mr Chrysostomides said that President Papadopoulos, after having deliberations with the Committee of the Relatives for the Missing, wrote a letter to the UN Secretary-General in which he unreservedly accepted Mr Annan's suggestions and expressed the hope that Mr Denktash would act likewise. Mr Chrysostomides added that a copy of President Papadopoulos' letter was sent to Mr Denktash.

Asked whether Mr Annan requested the revitalisation of the Investigation Committee for the Missing, Mr Chrysostomides said that his suggestions were related to the recommencement of the investigatory procedure.

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