Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades noted on Wednesday that despite the Greek Cypriot side’s positive attitude during the recent talks in Switzerland, aimed at solving the Cyprus problem, Turkey remained intransigent.
Addressing an event organised by “Lapithos” Refugee Association to mark thirty years since it was established, President Anastasiades stressed that the Greek Cypriot side wants the Turkish occupation of the island to end “as a demand of the people but also as a demand for the restoration of international law and the international legal order”.
“Our permanent aim is to achieve a solution to the Cyprus problem, which will create a state that will fully respect the human rights and basic human freedoms of all the legitimate residents of Cyprus. A modern state, built on a solution in the context of the decisions of the UN Security Council and the EU acquis, in which the Greek Cypriots and the Turkish Cypriots will live in conditions of security and prosperity and which will be free from guarantees, occupying troops and the military presence of third countries” the President noted.
“Despite the positive attitude we have shown in recent talks in Kran Montana unfortunately Turkish intransigence remained rigid” said Anastasiades.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37% of its territory.