“We are the victims of international manoeuvres and expansionist aspirations,” he said, adding responsibility for the division of Cyprus lay not only with Turkey, but also with “those who support Turkey over the years”.
These circles are “leading humanity deep into a financial crisis, trade weapons of mass destruction and send children and young people to become victims of unjust wars under various pretences,” said Christofias.
Speaking at the Presidential Palace to mark International Volunteer Day, Christofias said “our society is in need of other societies, to nurture principles and values because it is in pain for 35 years now”.
“I consider myself, my whole life, a volunteer. I believe the volunteer work I do with Mr (Mehmet Ali) Talat is very, very significant. We work to serve our people and our homeland,” he said, adding that this homeland could be a paradise for all Cypriots, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots alike.
He welcomed the three Turkish Cypriots at the event who are members of KENTHEA (Center for Education about Drugs and Treatment of Drug Addicted Persons) and expressed hope that more Turkish Cypriots will follow suit.
Christofias said he and his government considered themselves “servants of our Turkish Cypriot compatriots too, because our homeland is one, our people, our two communities- Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot– are one”.
He also wished that the New Year brings “the best news which Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots are anticipating, the news of the reunification of our homeland”.
During his visit to London on Friday, Turkish Cypriot leader Talat set mid-February as the cut-off-date for ending direct talks with Christofias, citing the ‘presidential’ elections in April and the start of the election campaign as reasons for the imposed deadline.
Speaking at Chatham House, Talat said there was little chance of progress in December as the main focus was on Turkey’s EU evaluation report regarding its obligations to the EU and Cyprus.
According to Greek alternate Foreign Minister Demetris Droutsas yesterday, Cyprus and Greece have not found acceptable the Swedish Presidency’s draft proposals on the evaluation report. He said there was still scope for making the necessary changes so that the two countries could give their approval to a more acceptable text.
Cyprusmail, By Stefanos Evripidou Published on December 6, 2009
