The announcement of the package of measures will be made before the arrival in Cyprus of the UN Secretary-General's envoy, the Government Spokesperson said
The package of measures for the Turkish Cypriots is ready, Government Spokesman Mr. Konstantinos Letympiotis said today, adding that the official announcement is expected.
In his statements to the journalists, at the event of the Union of Cyprus Editors for the cutting of the King's Pie, at the Press Center, the Representative, when asked about the package of measures for the Turkish Cypriots expected to be announced by the Government, said that "the list, the package of measures is ready . We await the official announcement. This bundle covers a wide range of modules that touch the daily life of Turkish Cypriots.
In the new period that opens before us with the arrival of the UN Secretary General's envoy, we come with a sincere political will to continue taking initiatives to create the conditions for the resumption of talks from where they were interrupted on the basis of the bizonal bicommunal federation with political equality ».
He added that the announcement of the package of measures will be made before the arrival in Cyprus of the UN Secretary General's envoy.
Asked to comment on Turkish Cypriot leader Mr. Ersin Tatar's statements about cooperation between the two communities in the energy sector, the Spokesperson said that "this has been answered repeatedly. The Cypriot EEZ, the natural wealth of the Republic of Cyprus belongs to the Republic of Cyprus, in accordance with international law.
The message we are sending both to Mr. Tatar and to our Turkish Cypriot compatriots is that the resolution of the Cyprus issue is for the benefit of the whole of Cyprus, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots. The solution based on the bi-zonal bi-communal federation with political equality is what we believe the Turkish Cypriots also seek and believe in. On January 30, Mrs. Holgin will be in Cyprus and there we will have to prove our political will, so that 2024 can be the year of redemption for our country".
Asked if there is any difficulty in taking effective measures against fan violence, the Spokesperson said that “there is no difficulty. There has been a thorough discussion yesterday in the Council of Ministers, views have been exchanged today, the Minister of Justice and Public Order will attend before the start of the session of the Executive Committee of the KOP to list the views and concerns of the Government. We will wait to hear the decisions of the KOP, to be evaluated and then, if necessary, further measures will be taken by the Government.
What the President of the Republic underlined, and it is also a social imperative, is that such unacceptable incidents can neither be accepted nor tolerated in playing fields with the risk of lives.
The State is doing everything possible to ensure the safety of citizens.
At the same time we should recognize that there was a strong police presence inside and outside the playing field and it is not possible to have such a strong police presence and need such a strong police presence in all playing fields in every match that is played. Playing fields are not battlefields. We will continue as a State to do everything possible."
When asked if further measures will be taken, as the President mentioned yesterday in relation to the "closing" of stadiums, the Spokesperson said that "the President of the Republic will not calculate political responsibility, the safety of the citizens is at stake here, he has said so himself that nothing is ruled out at this stage.
The priority is to ensure that citizens are safe and that they and their children will be able to watch the games."
Asked if the Police is reviewing the measures, the Spokesperson said that "the Police are constantly reviewing, evaluating the effectiveness of the measures, the eventual adoption of further measures within the operational plans.
However, we cannot expect such incidents to be avoided only through an increased police presence. Everyone must take responsibility now."