The presence of Hungary's Prime Minister at the recent informal summit of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) is not something that can be accepted, Government Spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis said on Monday, noting that all the necessary diplomatic steps have already been taken by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In his statements to journalists, after a meeting of the Council of Ministers at the Presidential Palace, and asked to comment on Turkey's efforts for the recognition of the illegal Turkish Cypriot regime through the Organization of Turkic States, as well as the presence of the Hungarian Prime Minister at the recent informal OTS summit, Letymbiotis he said that these efforts by Turkey and the occupying regime were constant. He noted that the Republic of Cyprus was also constantly mobilising its 'strong' diplomacy. 'The diplomatic footprint of our country is clearly greater than our geographical boundaries,' he added, noting that this has been proven through the efforts of the last few mon ths, as well as over time. It is also the reason, he added, that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a statement as soon as it was informed about the presence there of a leader of an EU member state. He noted that the EU High Representative, Josep Borel, himself, in his written statement, 'has clarified, firstly, his support for the only recognised state, the Republic of Cyprus', while also making it clear that the presence of the Prime Minister of Hungary was not in his capacity as the head of the country which is now the EU Member State serving the rotating presidency of the European Council, but, as the leader of a member state, 'which is still not something that can be accepted', Letymbiotis noted. The Spokesperson said that all the necessary diplomatic steps have already been taken by the Foreign Ministry while any more actions deemed necessary would also be taken. What is important, he noted, 'and what has been proven once again' is what Nicosia wants, which is solidarity within the EU as rega rds the Republic of Cyprus, as the recognised State on the island, and support for international law. Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively. Last January UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres appointed María Ángela Holguín Cuéllar of Colombia as his personal envoy for Cyprus, to assume a Good Offices role on his behalf and search for common ground on the way forward in the Cyprus issue. Source: Cyprus News Agency
Menu