THE NATIONAL COUNCIL (NC) yesterday ended its four-day marathon meeting with a joint resolution, which confirms the Greek Cypriot side’s basic principles and goals for a solution to the Cyprus problem.
President Demetris Christofias and party leaders agreed on the strategies to be followed regarding Turkey’s prospective EU accession, taking its EU evaluation in December into consideration.
The NC resolved that if Turkey fails to comply with its obligations towards the EU, specifically those concerning Cyprus, then “it won’t be left unhindered to continue its accession process, without sanctions”.
The issues on the Council’s agenda were the direct talks between the two community leaders to resolve the Cyprus problem, as well as Turkey’s accession process.
Announcing the resolution after the meeting, Government Spokesman Stefanos Stefanou said the NC had reconfirmed its perseverance to find a peaceful solution, based on UN resolutions and the High Level agreements of 1977 and 1979 for a bizonal, bicommunal federation with political equality.
“The aforementioned solution must achieve unity of the country, the people, the institutions and the economy,” Stefanou reiterated.
Furthermore, it will have to comply with international justice, European principles, communal law, as well as human rights’ conventions.
“The United Republic of Cyprus must have just one sovereignty, international personality and citizenship, and must be an evolution of the Cyprus Republic,” said Stefanou.
The NC decided that a solution must include the departure of the Turkish occupying forces and settlers. “The final aim remains Cyprus’ demilitarisation and distancing the British bases.”
Before a solution is found, a population census must be carried out by a credible international organisation. “The National Council supports the positions and efforts by the President of the Republic in the negotiations’ procedure, for an urgent inventory of the population, properties and land use. It also supports the President’s efforts to achieve a moratorium in the exploitation of refugee properties and to output the so-called citizenship of the pseudostate,” Stefanou explained.
The resolution calls for the restoration of the basic freedoms and human rights of all Cypriots, including the refugees’ right to return to their homes and properties.
In addition: “The solution must be a product of agreement between the two leaders and not the result of pressure from the outside. Only such a solution can be sent to a referendum. Any forms of arbitration or timeframes are excluded.”
Finally, the resolution “rejects and excludes any form of a solution that will lead to the legalisation of status quo or a solution for two separate states”.
It was noted that even though the resolution was commonly agreed on by all parties, there are issues where they maintain they own positions.
Asked whether the four-day NC session had led to Christofias altering his strategy, Stefanou said the answers could be found in the common resolution, which was “very clear”.
The National Council was joined by AKEL general secretary Andros Kyprianou and parliamentary spokesman Nicos Katsourides, DISY leader Nicos Anastassiades and deputy president Averoff Neophytou, DIKO president Marios Garoyian and deputy president George Kolokasides, EDEK president Yiannakis Omirou and honorary president Vassos Lyssarides, EVROKO leader Demetris Syllouris and deputy president Nicos Koutsou and the Green Party’s general secretary Dinos Paspalides and press spokesman George Perdikis.
Representing the government were Foreign Minister Markos Kyprianou, Government Spokesman Stefanou and members of the Cyprus problem working group.
