Thank you so much for the opportunity to address the second edition of the book of my friend Nikos Christodoulides. The various plans for resolving the Cyprus issue in the course of a critical thirty-year period are analysed in this book.
Unfortunately, I cannot attend the presentation of the book, as I am in New York where I will meet with the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, with whom we will discuss, among other things, the Cyprus issue.
Of course I need to make it clear, because I saw some comments, that my participation could not constitute an intervention in the domestic affairs of Cyprus. I had an excellent cooperation with Nikos. Now I have an excellent cooperation with Ioannis Kasoulides.
I now turn back to the book. I am here because reading the book provided me with a particularly useful approach to the complex aspects of the Cyprus issue; especially in view of the preparations for the Informal Five-party meeting in Geneva.
Nikos, as you know, combines many roles in one person. Today, he brings to the fore his status as an academic and writer.
In his study, he analyses the efforts to resolve the Cyprus issue during three periods: The Colonial Period, the Independence of the Republic of Cyprus and the Period following the invasion. It is a lesson in history. His study underlines our commitment to a just and viable solution to the Cyprus issue; always on the basis of UN Security Council Resolutions and the European Acquis. It underlines our commitment to Respect for International Law.
This book will continue to constitute an essential tool for those who want to delve into the Cyprus issue.
I wish him every success with his book.