Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades has told European Council President Charles Michel that the EU needs to be present at the Geneva informal meeting on Cyprus and contribute to the resumption of the reunification talks.
The Secretary General of the UN has called a meeting for Cyprus to take place in Geneva 27-29 April.
The President participated in a videoconference with Michel on Thursday afternoon for the preparation of the upcoming European Council 25-26 March and in particular for the discussion of the situation in the Eastern Mediterranean. Leaders of Greece, Germany, France, Italy, Spain and Portugal also attended the meeting.
A written statement by the Government Spokesperson Kyriacos Koushos says that the President underlined the significance of these talks with the Council, in the light of the report on EU-Turkey relations to be tabled at the upcoming EU Summit.
He spoke of Turkey`s obligations towards the EU and the member states and pointed out the issues arising from Turkey`s continuous denial to cooperate and fulfil its obligations. Cyprus President also referred to the migrant influx from Turkey to the island.
Anastasiades said that in order for EU-Turkey relations to be normalized, Turkey should demonstrate a different stance and speak through deeds as regards Cyprus` exclusive economic zone and Varosha as well as show a genuine determination to resolve all issues with the EU and the member states via a dialogue based on the international law.
He also said that Turkey so far speaks of a two state solution in Cyprus which violates the UN Resolutions.
The President reassured that he is going to be present at the Geneva meeting with genuine political will so that the talks will resume with the aim to reunify the island. He also said that the solution must be based on the UN resolutions, the High Level talks, the EU principles. A solution, he added, that will lead to the evolution of Cyprus Republic into a viable and functional bizonal, bicommunal federation, in the framework of the parameters that were reaffirmed during the meeting the UNSG had with the two leaders in November 2019.
Cyprus has been divided since the 1974 Turkish invasion. The latest round of UN-backed talks took place in the summer of 2017 but failed to yield results
