Turkey continues to try to cover its negative policy on Cyprus, distorting the past, said Government Spokesman Stephanos Stephanou, replying to remarks by Turkey's Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu. The Spokesman also said UN Secretary General's Special Adviser on the Cyprus problem, Alexander Downer`s remark on Wednesday in New York that lot more has been achieved than what Cyprus' public opinion understands and that the UN does not wish to lose all that has been achieved, refers to the Turkish Cypriot side which avoids commitments and backs away from convergences, trying to eradicate the foundation of the negotiations. Stephanou also said that President of the Republic of Cyprus Demetris Christofias' proposal about Famagusta provides for motives for all interested parties and would be mutually beneficial.
Speaking to reporters, Stephanou said that "Turkey continues to cover its negative policy on Cyprus, by maintaining the problem of the illegal occupation, violation of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Republic of Cyprus and distorting the past. This is what Mr. Davutoglu tries to do with his references to the 2004 referendum and the Anan Plan".
Stephanou pointed out that the two communities in 2004 were invited to decide separately, in simultaneous referenda, about a plan which was not the result of a mutual agreement but the result of arbitration and provided that if it was not agreed approved, it would have been declared as ‘null and void'. The international community", he added, respected, respects and accepts the right of the people of Cyprus to decide for their future, something which Turkey does not accept and rejects.
The Government Spokesman said it would be better for Turkey, instead of returning to the past aiming at covering its negative policy and cause a standstill, to start working for a solution in the Cyprus problem that will support the UN resolutions on Cyprus, which it insists on respecting and implementing. The international community, he added, should point this out to Turkey constantly and exert pressure to change its negative stance and open the road to a solution. He pointed out that Turkey should respect the agreed procedure for a solution, without arbitration and strict deadlines and an agreement which should be placed before the two communities.
Invited to comment on Downer's comments that President Christofias' proposal on Famagusta is on the table, Stephanou said that "the President of the Republic has tabled again the issue of Famagusta, as it was provided in the proposal that he had submitted in 2010". The proposal, he added, is based on UN resolutions that concern Famagusta and especially transferring the fenced off area of Famagusta to the UN, to allow for the necessary actions to take place and its lawful residents to return to the area. Unfortunately, he said, "Turkey rejected the proposal, in the framework of its negative policy on Cyprus".
Regarding the issue of a multilateral conference, Stephanos Stephanou said that the UN will be the ones to decide when such a conference can take place. He said that the UN Security Council Resolution 2026 on the renewal of the mandate of UNFICYP, approved in December 2011, clearly notes that a multilateral conference could convene when and only there is an agreement on the internal aspects of the problem, because the conference will deal with the external aspects of the Cyprus problem. This is the position of the Republic of Cyprus on the matter". (CNA)
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