President of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades said that statements made by Turkish President Tayip Erdogan on guarantors and Turkish occupying forces in Cyprus are unacceptable, negative and intransigent.
Speaking to the press on Tuesday during a visit to Larnaka airport and asked to comment on a statement made by Erdogan about a change of policy, he said that this is not a new approach by Turkey, adding that in the recent Geneva meeting, Turkey spoke of a two-state solution. He said that this approach finds no recipients as no state in the international community or in the EU accepts such a stance. The President went on to say that acceptance of a two-state solution would open Pandora`s Box with repercussions for many countries.
President Anastasiades also said that these statements and approach cannot allow us to be positive in what Turkey wants to gain from the EU.
He was also asked to comment on the joint Cyprus-France exercise today, saying that the two countries have a close cooperation and that Cyprus` foreign policy is multifaceted and the bilateral and trilateral agreements with many countries have highlighted Cyprus as a pillar of stability and peace.
Ηe said that what is of most importance is for Cyprus to play its role. Asked if Cyprus will take any initiative as regards the Gaza crisis, the President said that we have made representations in order to see if a ceasefire can be achieved. He said that our positions are well known and what we support is that any attack on civilians, will have counter attacks against civilians and this is a very sad development. He said that our position is clear, that we are against any terrorist organization.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results.
The 5+1 Informal Meeting that took place in Geneva, on April 27-29, has failed to find enough common ground to allow for the resumption of formal negotiations in relation to the settlement of the Cyprus problem.
UN Secretary – General, Antonio Guterres, has said that he will convene in the near future another meeting of the 5+1, the five plus the United Nations, again with the objective to move in the direction of reaching common ground to allow for formal negotiations to start.