The UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has been informed through a letter to UN representatives in Cyprus about President of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades` decision not to attend the Cyprus leaders meeting scheduled to take place on Thursday, UN SG`s Spokesman Stéphane Dujarric said on Tuesday responding to a question.
“The Secretary-General is being informed through a letter to UN representatives in Cyprus on the decision by the Presidential Palace and Mr. Anastasiades would not attend the meeting,” Dujjaric said. He added that the UN SG`s Special Adviser on Cyprus Espen Barth Eide arrived in Cyprus today and will hold meetings with both leaders and negotiators and leaders of political parties and others to discuss the way forward in the negotiations.
Meanwhile, according to diplomatic sources, US Deputy Secretary of State William Burns had on Monday a telephone conversation with President Anastasiades and discussed with him Turkey`s recent provocations regarding Cyprus` EEZ . According to the same sources, the American official condemned Turkey`s actions, noting that everyone should remain calm and show political leadership.
According to the same sources, President Anastasiades pointed out that it is the first time that Turkey binds areas within the EEZ of the Republic of Cyprus, especially in a period that drilling operations are underway.
The Council of political party leaders endorsed on Tuesday a suggestion by the President of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades to suspend his meetings as well as the meetings of the Greek Cypriot negotiator with the Turkish Cypriot side, due to the Turkish provocations.
Turkey has recently issued a NAVTEX (Navigational Telex), a notice to mariners advising that it was reserving areas south of Cyprus for seismic surveys from October 20 to December 30.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37% of its territory.The latest round of UN-led peace talks began in February 2014 after Anastasiades and Eroglu agreed on a joint statement.
