President of the European Council Donald Tusk and Prime Minister of Turkey Ahmet Davutoğlu have agreed on the need for a comprehensive settlement to the Cyprus problem.
“The statu quo has endured for too long. It is very important to ensure a positive climate so that the negotiations can resume”, said President Tusk in a press statement issued on Thursday following his meeting with Davutoğlu held at his office at the EU Council in Brussels.
He also noted that “in our meeting, I reaffirmed to the Prime Minister the importance the European Union attaches to our relations with Turkey. Turkey is a key partner for us. Turkey`s accession process remains the main framework of our relations. On our side, we will continue to support opening new chapters when the conditions are met”.
Donald Tusk welcomed “the commitment of the Turkish Government to the accession process. Its new EU Strategy and Action Plan show this. Implementation will be key”.
President Anastasiades suspended his participation in the UN-led peace talks 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.
Repeated calls for the withdrawal of “Barbaros” went unheeded by Ankara, which announced recently the NAVTEX`s extension until April 6, 2015.
Turkey, whose troops occupy Cyprus’ northern part since they invaded in 1974, does not recognize the Republic of Cyprus, in spite of numerous calls by the EU, which Ankara aspires to join, to do so and normalise relations with Nicosia.