President of the Republic Nicos Anastasiades has described as “significant” indications that Turkey might be willing, in principle, to discuss the external aspects of the Cyprus problem before the resumption of a new round of peace talks for a Cyprus settlement.
President Anastasiades said it is important to ensure sufficient preparation prior to negotiations “so that we know exactly the positions of each side, if there is ground or not so that we don’t face the same as in Geneva and Crans Montana”.
The President made the remarks after a meeting he chaired at the Presidential Palace on the missing persons issue.
Asked how important he considers Turkey’s intention in principle to discuss the external aspects of the Cyprus problem, as this was indicated after the recent meeting of the Foreign Ministers of Greece and Turkey, the President replied, “of course I consider it important”.
The President explained that he was always in favour of preparation before the start of a conference on Cyprus, noting that the impressions created by the (former) UN Secretary General’s Special Adviser on Cyprus were not based on real facts.
The President was also invited to comment on moves in Cyprus’ Turkish occupied northern areas by the self-styled parliament to promote a resolution against a bizonal, bicommunal federation. Anastasiades said he understands that these initiatives come from those who never supported a bizonal, bicommunal federation. “It is those people who have pursued the recognition of the illegal regime proclaimed in 1983”, he added.
Asked where he locates the problem in resolving the missing persons’ issue, the President replied “in Turkey’s intransigence”. He explained that they intentionally moved remains of missing persons and refuse to give information from the Turkish government’s archives to effectively address one of the humanitarian problems of the Turkish invasion.
The President said the government has made numerous demarches and protests on the issue to many governments, adding “there are decisions by the ECHR which condemn Turkey, unfortunately though there is an acceptable tolerance in deferring (execution of judgements) which is granted to Turkey to comply with its obligations”.
He referred to the European Court of Human Rights decision in 2014 when Turkey was told to pay 30 million euro in compensation. The President said it was not a question of the compensation but rather an issue of the tolerance displayed towards Turkey by those who should have been more sensitive to the issue.
The Republic of Cyprus has been divided since the Turkish invasion against this EU-Mediterranean island in 1974. The latest round of UN-backed talks took place last July in the Swiss resort of Crans Montana but failed to yield any results.
