President of the Republic Nicos Christodoulides described as positive the upcoming visit of the United Nations Secretary-General to Cyprus, noting that these developments are the result of the Government's actions and that the objective is the resumption of talks.
The President said the visit demonstrates the upgraded international interest in the Cyprus problem, expressed hope for concrete results and stated that he has convened the National Council, adding that the Greek Cypriot side is fully ready to welcome António Guterres.
Clear political will
"We consider the visit of the UN Secretary-General positive. It shows what we have been saying all along about his clear political will, about the international interest as a result of our actions," the President said, responding to a journalist's question as he arrived at a memorial event for the Missing Persons, held in Kornos on the occasion of the black anniversaries.
"He comes at a time when we are seeing in practice, we knew it very well ourselves, but it is also evident in practice, through the actions of the EU, this upgraded interest," he added.
"We hope that the conditions will be created to achieve our goal, which is none other than the resumption of talks," he said.
No draft proposal sent
Asked whether the UN Secretary-General has a proposal or has sent a preliminary draft, the President replied that "he has not sent a draft".
"I want to be absolutely honest with the Cypriot people," he said, noting that he will hold a private meeting with the Secretary-General before the joint meeting.
"Whatever arises, we are talking about a major effort, it concerns our national issue, it concerns our entire country, it concerns all of our people, and the public will of course be informed," he added.
Erdogan will not attend occupation events
Asked whether the fact that Recep Tayyip Erdogan will not travel to the occupied areas for the events marking the invasion could be interpreted as a goodwill gesture, the President replied that "Mr Erdogan will not come, someone else will come in his place".
"So let us not rush, I believe, to draw such conclusions," he added.
Preparation through Holguín's contacts
The President recalled that ahead of the Secretary-General's visit, his Personal Envoy, María Ángela Holguín, is in Brussels, will be in contact with Turkey and will then travel to Cyprus.
"It is part of the preparation for the Secretary-General's visit, so that there can be concrete results," he noted.
"That is our goal, and that is the direction in which we are working," he said, adding that "following our own actions, I repeat, we find ourselves before these developments and we want them to bear fruit".
He explained that by "bear fruit" he means the "resumption of talks on the basis of the agreed framework, the principles, the values and the law of the EU, from where we left off at Crans-Montana".
Asked whether a trilateral meeting will take place, the President replied that "a joint meeting with the Secretary-General will certainly be held", adding that it constitutes one of the main parts of the visit's programme.
