President of the Republic of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades has said that if Turkey proceeds to same actions as it did last October by sending a seismic vessel which violated the Republic`s sovereignty in its Exclusive Economic Zone, then it would not be possible to continue the Cyprus talks, which are expected to begin this spring.
The President, who held a meeting today in Athens with the Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, said that it is for the benefit of both Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots to reach a solution of the Cyprus problem `the soonest possible`.
“We want a solution of a lasting peace, which would terminate once and for all the unacceptable current situation” Anastasiades added.
The two leaders stressed that the Cyprus talks must aim at a just and viable solution of the Cyprus problem, as soon as possible.
Asked whether Nicosia has received or asked for any guarantees that there will be no more “unfortunate surprises” from Ankara, or whether the USA, the United Nations or other important stakeholders have reassured him that the situation has changed, Anastasiades said that many reassurances had been given in the past, and that what really is important now is “the efforts we put into achieving stability and a total reverse of the previous conditions, so that we can go ahead with substantial talks”.
Despite the reassurances, he went on to say, if Turkey proceeds to the same actions as last October, then `it would not be possible to further continue the dialogue`.
Both said that there are now prospects for the resumption of the Cyprus talks. The Greek Prime Minister described as positive news the fact that Turkey did not renew its illegal Navtex in Cyprus` EEZ and that the Turkish vessel `Barbaros` has withdrawn from the area.
Meanwhile, asked by CNA on a possible date for the resumption of the negotiations, Cypriot government spokesman, Nikos Christodoulides said that this has not been decided yet.
The talks between Anastasiades and Tsipras lasted for about an hour. Both leaders agreed that a second tri-party meeting between Cyprus, Greece and Egypt on energy issues will be held in Nicosia, and that this initiative should not be interpreted as an act of excluding other important countries in the region.
“I will be thrilled”, the Greek Prime Minister said, ” if soon we can sit at the same table, with Egypt, Israel and Turkey”.
President Anastasiades talked about Cyprus` “warm ties” with Israel, and added that soon he will visit Prime Minister Netanyahu in Tel Aviv.
“We have our differences”, he stressed, “especially on the Palestinian matter, but we also have a lot of things that bring us together”.
Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades has suspended his participation in the peace talks to reunite the island divided since the 1974 Turkish invasion, following a Navigational Telex or NAVTEX, issued by Turkey in October last year, as Turkish seismic research vessel “Barbaros” violated the Republic’s Exclusive Economic Zone.
The Turkish NAVTEX expired April 6 and Barbaros has left Cyprus` EEZ.
UNSG Special Adviser for Cyprus Espen Barth Eide announced April 7 that UN-backed talks are expected to resume within weeks following the illegal elections in the occupied areas of the island. The `elections` are taking place on Sunday.