Government Spokesman Nikos Christodoulides, briefed the press in Brussels on the results of President Nicos Anastasiades` intervention in the EU Summit and conveyed the President`s full satisfaction with the outcome of the debate on Cyprus, during the European Council.
The Spokesman said that the President briefed the European Council on the developments in Cyprus, with particular emphasis on the process and the progress towards the multilateral conference on Cyprus that will start on the 12th January in Geneva and especially on the importance of the chapter on security and guarantees”.
Christodoulides conveyed the “full satisfaction of the President with the results and the debate that followed his briefing to the heads of EU institutions and the Heads of State and Government.”
On the issue of security and guarantees in particular, Nikos Christodoulides said that it is important “that the EU is ready to play the role that a Member State deserves, since we believe that the status of Cyprus as a Member State, which will continue after the solution of the Cyprus issue, is the best safeguard for the all the people of Cyprus, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots. ”
Replying to a question, the Spokesman noted that “President of the European Council Donald Tusk, President of the Commission Jean Claude Juncker, High Representative Frederica Mogherini and Greek Prime Minister Alexis sipras, intervened after the President`s speech”.
On the sidelines of the Summit, the President of the Republic had the opportunity to exchange views with the Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel and other Heads of Government. Christodoulides said that `it is important that there is universal support from the EU Member States at this very critical juncture for Cyprus”.
According to the Government Spokesman, “it is within this framework that a specific paragraph was included (in the EU Council`s Conclusions), that outlines the readiness of the EU, precisely because the Republic of Cyprus is a member state and will continue to be after the Settlement, expressing the Union`s readiness to participate in multilateral conference that will start on January 12 “.
President of the Republic Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci decided to meet in Geneva on the 9th of January 2017, on the 11th of January they will present their respective maps and that from the 12th of January, a Conference on Cyprus will be convened with the added participation of the guarantor powers, while other relevant parties shall be invited as needed.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37% of its territory. President Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Akinci have been engaged in UN-backed talks since May 2015, with a view to reunite the island under a federal roof.