We expect to see the results of the elections in Turkey and how the one who will be elected will position himself, especially on the issue of the perspective of strengthening EU relations with Turkey, said the President of the Republic of Cyprus Nikos Christodoulidis.

In his statements to journalists, attending the OSAC Scientific Conference, the President of the Republic, when asked if after the elections in Turkey and Greece, the time horizon for new developments in the Cyprus issue is completed and if some developments are expected, he replied that “the time limit set during our discussions was the election process in Turkey. So, let’s wait and see what the results will be and we will also see the next steps.

As you know, contacts have already been made and are continuing at a technocratic level with the (European) Commission, but also with some member states, we are especially in contact with France and Germany, which I will visit, and we expect after the electoral process in Turkey to take the next steps.”

When asked if he thinks that Turkey’s attitude towards Cyprus can change in the event of the election of the leader of the opposition in Turkey, President Christodoulidis said that “we should not speculate, we should wait to see the results of who will be the new leader of Turkey, how he will position himself and in particular on the issue of the prospective strengthening of EU relations with Turkey.

I am following very carefully the statements made by Mr. Erdogan, but also by the leader of the opposition, but we will have to act on the basis of real data.

As far as Turkey’s general approach to the Cyprus issue is concerned, I do not expect any substantial change in case the opposition leader wins. What I am interested in, what we are studying internally and have our own analyses, as well as the assessments of third parties, is in relation to the prospect of strengthening the EU’s relations with Turkey, because that is what we believe can unlock the prospect for resumption of talks”.

In response to a journalist’s remark that according to information the Registrar of Companies has at his disposal an opinion from the Legal Service on how to proceed with the companies whose accounts have been “frozen” due to the sanctions, the President of the Republic said that “there are two issues which arise.

One concerns requests to the Registrar of Companies to change some of the data of individuals registered there.

The second concerns the payroll of all those who work for people who are subject to the sanctions.

On both issues I have seen the opinion, with particular emphasis on the payroll of all those who work for people on the sanctions list. I expect it to be resolved this week. We have already taken action, I have spoken with the Attorney General, I have spoken with the Governor of the Central Bank, we have also spoken with foreign Governments and I expect this week to have developments”.