Press Releases

The Government Spokesman, Mr Konstantinos Letymbiotis, held a media briefing at the Presidential Palace today.

In his opening statement at the media briefing, Mr Letymbiotis said: “The Republic of Cyprus has given today its consent regarding the appointment of a personality, proposed by the United Nations Secretary-General, as an envoy with the aim of exploring the prospect of resuming negotiations for the Cyprus problem, within the agreed framework and in accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions. We hope for a corresponding positive response to the appointment of this personality from the other side, as soon as possible. We reiterate our sincere political will and readiness to resume negotiations from the point they were suspended, aiming for a viable and lasting solution of the Cyprus problem. Our will for a solution on the basis of a bizonal, bicommunal federation with political equality, remains strong.

Within this context and in view of tomorrow’s visit by the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to Athens for the meeting of the High-Level Cooperation Council between Greece and Turkey, we note that the improvement of Greek-Turkish relations is something we consider as a positive development, interlinked with the Cyprus problem, as this improvement can have a positive impact also on the Cyprus problem. Athens and Lefkosia are working closely to exhaust every possibility for significant progress on the Cyprus problem.

Regarding the call for expression of interest concerning the Board of Directors of the Natural Gas Public Company (DEFA), the period for expressing interest is extended until Monday, December 11^th, at 14:00.

It is reminded that the expression of interest form is posted on gnomodotiko.gov.cy.

The President of the Republic will meet tomorrow, Thursday, December 7th, with the Independent Power Transmission Operator of Greece (ADMIE), in the presence of the Minister of Energy, Commerce, and Industry, Mr Giorgos Papanastasiou.

Following the strategic agreement with Euroasia Interconnector, ADMIE was designated as the Implementing Body of the project for the Electricity Interconnection between Cyprus, Greece and Israel. This flagship project, which will lift the electrical isolation of Cyprus and open a new energy corridor in the Eastern Mediterranean, has secured grants amounting to 657 million euro from EU funds, from the funding instrument 'Connecting Europe Facility’ and it constitutes a European Project of Common Interest (PCI). Its completion will mark the electrical interconnection of Cyprus – the last non-interconnected EU member state – with the European transmission system, ensuring the island's energy security and reducing the cost of electricity.

The project attracts investment interest from state investment funds in the region.”

(ASP)