Nicosia has a “clear plan” on how to proceed on all matters relating to the British Bases in Cyprus, President of the Republic Nikos Christodoulides said on Wednesday.
He also sent the message that Turkish Cypriots can have a say in negotiations on the issue “after they return to the Republic of Cyprus”, while Turkey could have a role in the future of the British Bases “after first recognising the Republic of Cyprus”.
Speaking to the media after the student parade marking the anniversary of 25 March 1821 in Nicosia, and asked about the position Nicosia will negotiate with London regarding the British Bases, Christodoulides said the government has demonstrated in practice that it acts with planning and clear objectives when responding to specific issues.
“We are a government that proves in practice, and not just in words, that when we react to specific matters we have planning, we have a plan and we know clearly where we want to reach,” he said.
The President noted that he informed the British government “from the very first moment” and also briefed the National Council. “We are moving in this direction. I will not refer publicly to anything concerning this issue because it would undermine the effort we are making,” he added.
“I repeat, before speaking publicly we have a clear plan and strategy on how to proceed step by step on all matters relating to the British Bases in Cyprus,” he said.
Responding to reactions from the Turkish Cypriot side that the issue of the British Bases cannot be negotiated, Christodoulides said that “our Turkish Cypriot compatriots can have a say in the negotiations on the Bases after they return to the Republic of Cyprus”.
“And Turkey, because it was also mentioned, can have a say on the future of the British Bases after it first recognises the Republic of Cyprus,” he added.
He recalled that negotiations had taken place in the past, although not on the scale Nicosia now wishes to pursue with the British side, regarding non-military development in areas within the British Bases, and noted that the British government had responded positively at the time.
Asked when such discussions might begin, Christodoulides said that “our first concern at this moment is the management of the crisis”.
“Our positions have been formally conveyed. Some preliminary discussions have already taken place and, I repeat, we are proceeding on the basis of a specific plan and strategy,” he added.
Asked whether the British side is willing to discuss the issue, the President said he would not speak on behalf of the British government.
“For the British government, the British Prime Minister speaks,” he said, adding that he himself was speaking on behalf of the Cypriot government.
“I first spoke with the British and then informed the public,” he said, noting that more than 10,000 Cypriot citizens live within the British Bases.
“These are citizens who are not second-class. We have an obligation for their safety, just as we have an obligation for the entire Cypriot people,” he said.
“What we expect now is the end of this crisis. I sincerely hope that some initiatives currently under way will soon produce results and then discussions will begin on this issue as well,” he added.
Asked about the increased security measures during the parade and whether they were linked to the crisis in the region, the President said that security measures have been heightened across Cyprus since the beginning of the crisis.
“Security is our highest priority, the security of the Cypriot people,” he said, noting that the government also acted preventively after the incident that occurred at the British Bases to further strengthen the country’s deterrent capabilities.
He also thanked the Greek government for its immediate response to his request to reinforce the deterrent capabilities of the Republic of Cyprus.
Christodoulides said that the actions taken by Greece were followed by other European governments including France, Italy, Spain and the Netherlands.
This, he added, led the European Union, at the recent European Council meeting, to decide to establish a specific framework for an EU response if and when a member state decides to activate Article 42(7) of the Treaty on European Union.