Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades has described the arrests carried out in the Turkish-occupied area of the island after a failed military coup in Turkey as an unpleasant development.
In statements after a meeting of the Council of Geostrategic Studies held here today, President Anastasiades said that we should all behave responsibly to see how Cyprus really becomes an independent and sovereign state.
He also said that there is no reason to postpone his forthcoming meeting with the Turkish Cypriot leader scheduled for this Friday in the context of the peace talks aiming at solving the Cyprus issue.
President said that the Council of Geostrategic Studies as the scientifically competent body monitors the situation in Turkey to help to shape policies according to the estimates made on the developments.
Anastasiades who presided over the meeting held at the Presidential Palace said that the Council of Geostrategic Studies is an advisory body, adding that he convened the meeting to hear the views of the members of the Council on the developments in Turkey.
Asked to comment on reports about arrests in the occupied area of the island in relation with the attempted coup in Turkey, President Anastasiades said that this is another unpleasant development.
He also noted that as Turkish Cypriot realise the risks of the current situation we should all behave responsibly to see how Cyprus really becomes an independent, sovereign state so that crises generated elsewhere would not spread into our homeland.
Asked whether the meeting with the Turkish Cypriot leader on Friday would take place as scheduled, President Anastasiades said “of course, I do not see any reason to cancel the talks”.
President of the Council of Geostrategic Studies Michalis Attalides said that that was a substantive meeting during which they exchanged views on the developments in Turkey and possible implications on Cyprus as well as whether some opportunities are raised for our policy.
He said that the Council will also convene on Thursday to continue its deliberations.