Any initiatives to implement confidence building measures in Cyprus will aim at giving a new impetus to the Cyprus talks, government sources told CNA, adding that those measures will not form part of the talks procedure itself, they will rather run in parallel to the procedure.
The same sources told the Cyprus News Agency that the government waits to see how the US initiative for confidence building measures will be undertaken.
The White House yesterday welcomed Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades’ proposal for a package “of bold and innovative confidence-building measures and other constructive proposals, which have the potential, when agreed and implemented by the parties to dramatically enhance cooperation between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities and restore faith in settlement efforts”.
“To this point, “the United States will engage in diplomacy with all stakeholders to explore possible initiatives to reinforce settlement negotiations, including measures aimed at the future revitalization of the Famagusta region, when agreed by the two communities” the White House said.
Meanwhile, according to CNA sources, the negotiators of the Greek Cypriot and the Turkish Cypriot sides will hold their first meeting either Thursday or Friday. The same sources told CNA that new working groups in the framework of the Cyprus talks have been established and they have already held a meeting, while new technical committees will also be set up.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied the island’s northern third.
A meeting took place on the 11th of February 2014 in Nicosia between the two community leaders, Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu, marking the resumption of the stalled UN-led peace talks. The talks were interrupted in 2012 by the Turkish side when the Republic of Cyprus assumed the EU Presidency.