Cyprus President, Nikos Christodoulides, and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, discussed on Monday in New York about the resumption of the UN-led Cyprus settlement negotiations, with the latter underlining that the European Commission is ready to play an active role in supporting all stages of the process.
Von der Leyen said in a post on social media that he had a good exchange with President Christodoulides.
"We discussed the resumption of the UN-led Cyprus settlement negotiations, crucial for building trust and confidence between communities," she added, pointing out that the European Commission "is ready to play an active role in supporting all stages of the process."
CNA has learned that von der Leyen has told Christodoulides that he will have a telephone conversation with the UNSG Antonio Guterres to tell him that the EU supports the appointment of a UN envoy in order to kick off the process for the Cyprus question.
Moreover, according to what was said during the meeting, the EU-Turkey relations will be an issue on the agenda of the European Council that will take place in December and not of the European Council that will take place in October and therefore time is given to have progress in the Cyprus question.
According to sources, von der Leyen said that the European Commission coordinates with France and Germany, and noted Turkey's aim to disconnect the Greco-Turkish relations from the Cyprus problem, adding that the EU does not accept this.
Greece does not also accept this and it is important this to be put forward during the meeting which the Prime Minister of Greece Kyriakos Mitsotakis will have with the Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday in New York, the sources noted.
Meanwhile Christodoulides will talk to Mitsotakis on the phone before the Greek PM's meeting with Erdogan.
Government Spokesman, Konstantinos Letymbiotis, said in a post on social media that President Christodulides is in close coordination with EU partners during the UN General Assembly High Level Week "on our joint efforts for resumption of negotiations on Cyprus question."
He added that Christodoulides had a productive discussion with von der Leyen on the next steps, the EU's involvement on the resumption of efforts and the priority of the appointment of a UN envoy.
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.
Source: Cyprus News Agency