Day: March 24, 2024

The members of the Cypriot Parliament's delegation to the Interparliamentary Union (IPU) expressed hope that the appointment of a UNSG's Personal Envoy on Cyprus will lead to the resumption of the UN-backed talks for a solution to the Cyprus problem. A press release issued by the Parliament, said the Cypriot MPs attended on Saturday a meeting of the Group for Cyprus that took place ahead of the 148th Assembly of the IPU which begins on Sunday in Geneva. The group headed by Averof Neofitou, also comprised MPs Stefanos Stefanou and Alexandra Attalides. During the meeting the Cypriot MPs reaffirmed the Greek Cypriot side's focus on a bi-communal bi-zonal federal settlement, according to the relevant UN resolutions and expressed hope that the appointment of a Personal Envoy by the UN Secretary-General will lead to the resumption of the talks from whey they were suspended in Crans Montana, the press release said. The Cypriot MPS pointed out the importance of reaching a settlement as soon as possible, since the elapsed time is against the Cypriot people as whole. They also stressed that the Turkish Cypriot side's demand over a 'two-state solution' will never be accepted, as this would solidify the fait accompli of the 1974 Turkish invasion and continuing occupation. 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. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres appointed María Ángela Holguín Cuéllar of Columbia as his personal envoy for Cyprus, to assume a Good Offices role on his behalf and search for common ground on the way forward in the Cyprus issue. Source: Cyprus News Agency