“We have many ideas, many proposals, we are always one step ahead, not with words but with actions, and we are not afraid of dialogue,” said Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulidis, referring to the Cyprus issue, while welcoming the Security Council‘s unanimous approval of the resolution to renew the mandate of UNFICYP.

Asked if he is willing to discuss any new ideas in order to overcome the obstacles that exist due to the negative stance of Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar, Christodoulides said, “let me remind you that in the meeting that took place, very specific suggestions were made from our side. Suggestions in three parts: roadblocks, the issue of the gate and other proposals that either the UN has proposed or our own initiative.

In the last meeting we had, Ersin Tatar asked for time to study all that I submitted very specifically and when he was ready we would meet. I told the UN Secretary General’s special envoy Mr. Stewart today that I am ready to meet if there is a response from E. Tatar. He has not suggested any particular date, because I heard on the way here that it was 8 February. He has not suggested it so far. What we have agreed is that after his meeting with Mr. Tatar, which was scheduled for 4:30pm, if anything came up he would contact me by telephone.”

Asked if the intention is to hold the meeting before the arrival of UN Assistant Secretary General Rosemary Di Carlo, the President said that “it does not matter when it takes place, what matters is that when such a meeting takes place again we have a result. That is what counts. So, it is not before or after, if it is before even better, even tomorrow I am ready to meet. What matters is that there is a result and that is why I expect to hear from Mr. Stewart if and when there is a development.”

In response to a reporter’s remark that the resolution on the renewal of the UNFICYP mandate was adopted this afternoon and asked if the wording used satisfies the Greek Cypriot side , President Christodoulides said “I have seen the wording, there have been various drafts which with the intervention of some Permanent and Non-Permanent Members of the Security Council have brought about significant improvements. They are in the right direction. It is important that there is this renewal of the mandate of UNFICYP, you know the positions of the Turkish side which is trying to downplay its importance and the fact that the Republic of Cyprus is the host country. Beyond that, our effort is to get a result in the expanded meeting.

What is most important, as is the meeting with Ms. Di Carlo when it is confirmed because, again, there is no official announcement yet from the UN side, is that there is a concrete positive outcome. So that is where all efforts are focused. I welcome the fact that the members of the Security Council, in particular some Permanent Members, have this keen interest and we hope that it will translate into positive results.”

Cypriot Foreign Minister meets with UN Secretary General

Asked if Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos will convey some messages to the UN Secretary General during their upcoming meeting in New York, Christodoulides replied “of course, that is why this particular meeting will take place and the messages are exactly related to the upcoming expanded meeting and the fact that there must be this preparatory work beforehand in order to have a positive outcome. We do not want and we certainly will not go to a meeting with the approach that there will not be a positive outcome. We will go so that there is a positive outcome. So, there needs to be this groundwork. The UN Secretary General, who is the convener of the meeting, has a crucial role to play.”