Statements by the President of the Republic

Depending on the results of his meetings on the issue of the increased migration flows, decisions will be taken that may not be pleasant either at home or abroad, the President of the Republic, Mr Nikos Christodoulides, said tonight.

In his statements to journalists in Larnaka, when asked to comment on the statements of the Turkish Cypriot leader, Mr Ersin Tatar, the President of the Republic said, “I read the statements of Mr Tatar. They certainly do not help create the climate we want. From that point on, I do not wish to follow Mr Tatar’s tactics. I have said many times that the talks will not be resumed through public statements. I believe in the Secretary-General, I know what he has in mind. Let us wait to see the results of this meeting and then we will comment. What I can express is the wish, the hope that something positive will emerge towards the resumption of the talks.”

In relation to the migration issue and asked what is the threshold to be exceeded in order to activate some of the measures which he mentioned, the President of the Republic said, “I am very well aware of Lebanon’s positions. I am aware of the positions of some European Union member states in relation to the situation in Syria, I am well aware of our international obligations, but I am aware and I am obliged – this is my primary obligation – to safeguard the interests of the Republic of Cyprus and the security of the Republic of Cyprus.

I have two important meetings, on Sunday with the President of the European Commission – we are also in telephone contact at a technical level – and on Monday I will be in Lebanon. Depending on the results, decisions will be taken. Decisions will be implemented depending on the outcome. Decisions which may not be pleasant, but they are decisions which have the sole objective of safeguarding the interests of the Republic of Cyprus and the security of its citizens.”

Asked to clarify whether the decisions would not be pleasant at home or abroad, the President of the Republic replied, “Both at home and abroad.”

(NG/IA)

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