President of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades reiterated on Wednesday to UK Minister for European Neighbourhood and the Americas, Wendy Morton, his readiness and determination to engage constructively in talks, ahead of a five-party conference which the UN Secretary-General convenes in Geneva, later this month, provided that talks for a solution do not depart from parameters, as defined in relevant UN resolutions, the February 11, 2014 Joint Declaration, past convergences, the November 25, 2019 announcement, EU values and principles, with the dialogue continuing from where it was left off.
According to a written statement by Government Spokesman, Kyriacos Koushos, issued by the Presidency of the Republic, President Anastasiades received Morton, at the Presidential Palace and detailed the Greek Cypriot positions, ahead of the informal five-party Conference on Cyprus.
During the meeting, President Anastasiades made clear that his intention is to reach a solution that will be functional, and thus viable, without the presence of foreign troops, guarantee rights or dependencies on any third country, Koushos adds.
On her part, Morton conveyed the UK’s full support to efforts for a successful outcome in the informal Conference, aiming at the resumption of substantial negotiations, he concludes.
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 latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively. The UN Secretary-General invited all parties involved to attend an informal five-plus-one meeting on the Cyprus issue in Geneva, Switzerland, from 27 to 29 April 2021.
In a statement, in late March, the members of the European Council welcomed the forthcoming talks on the Cyprus problem under the auspices of the United Nations and reiterated their commitment to a comprehensive settlement in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions, notably 550, 789, 1251.