The recent European Council Conclusions send a very specific positive message to Turkey, President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, said on Thursday, urging Ankara to seize the opportunity. Asked during his arrival to the In Business Awards, whether the recent European Council Conclusions will put pressure on Ankara to return to the negotiating table, given its reactions so far, the President of the Republic said that "whether Turkey rejects it or not, the connection is there. And it is not a decision of the Republic of Cyprus, it is a decision of 27 EU member states". According to the Presidency, the President of the Republic said he did not wish to enter into a public confrontation, noting that "we are interested in the essence". "The essence is the achievement of the goal of resuming the talks and in in this context we are working with the EU and the UN" he said, and recalled that UNSG's personal envoy for Cyprus, Maria Angela Holguin will be returning to Cyprus in the coming days. He added that "we are working in particular with Germany" noting that "there seems to be a willingness to assume a more leading role, it also played a role in the acceptance of Ms. Holguin's appointment by Turkey, and we continue the effort methodically, with targeted actions, with strategy, we know where we are going, we are not afraid of the talks and I hope that those circumstances will be created that will lead us to achieve the goal". Asked if the Conclusions will be a useful tool for the UNSG's personal envoy, the President of the Republic said "of course, it will be the first time that there is this interconnection, a positive message is sent to Turkey, a positive message with the agreement of the Republic of Cyprus as well, a specific positive message, not generalities, very specific. And I would like to tell Turkey to seize this opportunity." 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 late st round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively. Source: Cyprus News Agency

The recent European Council Conclusions send a very specific positive message to Turkey, President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, said on Thursday, urging Ankara to seize the opportunity. Asked during his arrival to the In Business Awards, whether the recent European Council Conclusions will put pressure on Ankara to return to the negotiating table, given its reactions so far, the President of the Republic said that "whether Turkey rejects it or not, the connection is there. And it is not a decision of the Republic of Cyprus, it is a decision of 27 EU member states". According to the Presidency, the President of the Republic said he did not wish to enter into a public confrontation, noting that "we are interested in the essence". "The essence is the achievement of the goal of resuming the talks and in in this context we are working with the EU and the UN" he said, and recalled that UNSG's personal envoy for Cyprus, Maria Angela Holguin will be returning to Cyprus in the coming days. He added that "we are working in particular with Germany" noting that "there seems to be a willingness to assume a more leading role, it also played a role in the acceptance of Ms. Holguin's appointment by Turkey, and we continue the effort methodically, with targeted actions, with strategy, we know where we are going, we are not afraid of the talks and I hope that those circumstances will be created that will lead us to achieve the goal". Asked if the Conclusions will be a useful tool for the UNSG's personal envoy, the President of the Republic said "of course, it will be the first time that there is this interconnection, a positive message is sent to Turkey, a positive message with the agreement of the Republic of Cyprus as well, a specific positive message, not generalities, very specific. And I would like to tell Turkey to seize this opportunity." 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 late st round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively. Source: Cyprus News Agency