Ioannou says president committed to solving Cyprus problem

Interior Minister Constantinos Ioannou said President Nikos Christodoulides is continuing concrete proposals that will lead to the restart of Cyprus talks, it emerged on Sunday.

Ioannou was in Greece for memorial ceremonies for individuals killed in the 1974 coup and during the Turkish invasion five days later.

According to Ioannou, there is strong political will on the part of the president to continue efforts, by diplomatic means, by promoting concrete and targeted proposals that will lead the two sides to the negotiations table for a Cyprus settlement.

Ioannou said that 50 years after the tragic events of July 1974, the struggle for the reunification of Cyprus must continue.

“The violation of fundamental human rights and freedoms, the thousands of refugees and people killed, the humanitarian aspect of the missing persons issue, do not allow us to give up the struggle for a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem and the reunification of our country,” he added.

“Despite the intransigence and the provocative claims of Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot side for a two-state solution, the Greek Cypriot side remains committed to the agreed framework for a solution, as set out in the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions,” he said.

He also added that the Cypriot government “has repeatedly demonstrated through its actions its readiness and willingness to cooperate, with the aim of achieving a comprehensive, just and viable settlement of the Cyprus problem, on the basis of the principles and values of the European Union and international law”.