President Nikos Christodoulides described on Thursday the progress report of the European Parliament on Turkey as significant, emphasising the reference that the European Parliament supports the efforts of the Greek Cypriot side for a more active EU involvement at all stages of the effort and for breaking the deadlock. In remarks on the sidelines of his visit to the French frigate Chevalier Paul in preparation for the military exercise EUNOMIA 4-2023 at the naval base "Evangelos Florakis" in Mari, President Christodoulides said that he is doing everything possible to restart negotiations, and if that happens, the EU - always within the framework of the United Nations - has the tools that will create a mutually beneficial situation for all parties involved in the Cyprus issue. Invited to comment on the reaction of Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot side, the President replied "they are the well known reactions that we tend to hear, nothing new." "What is important", he added, "is that not only the EU but the international community in its entirety, are sending the exact same messages to the Turkish side." In his remarks, the President also said that on Friday he is departing for Athens to address a meeting of Cypriot shipowners who live in Greece. From Athens, he said, he will travel to New York for the UN General Assembly. He emphasised the importance of the contacts that will take place there. What interests him more, he continued, is to create the conditions that will lead to the resumption of negotiations. So far, he said, there is no information about a meeting of himself with Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar and the UNSG. 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
