Cyprus Talks: Turkey should allow Cypriot sides to reach a settlement together - Nicos Anastasiades

Greek Cypriot president, Nicos Anastasiades said on Thursday called on Turkey to allow Cypriots to negotiate and reach a settlement for themselves so they can live in peace and security.

Anastasiades made the comments when speaking at the luncheon hosted by the Bulgarian ambassador in Nicosia, Hristo Georgiev where he congratulated Bulgaria for a successful, results-oriented presidency.

Referring to the Cyprus problem, he said that he remained “strongly and truly committed to negotiate a solution within the six-point framework that the Secretary-General has set as a basis for discussions, the relevant UN resolutions and the EU values and principles”.

I am ready and confident for the resumption of negotiations in good faith and spirit, he said.

He also expressed hope that the pending arrival of a UN special envoy would soon take place in order to assess through consultations with all relevant parties, if the necessary conditions for the resumption of the process were in place. “Hence, it is of utmost importance that all sides refrain from any further actions which will negatively affect the prospect of resuming negotiations.”

Addressing the EU Ambassadors attending the luncheon, Anastasiades said:

You are representing our closest partners in Europe and I consider you as valuable friends with a mission of positively contributing to the efforts for reunification.

He added that the status quo, partitionist or non-functional solutions, are not acceptable “not only because they are not fair but more importantly because they will add to, instead of solving, the problem.”

He also said that Turkey must allow Cypriots to negotiate and reach a settlement for Cyprus to be able to continue reunited in the path of prosperity, in peace and security.

Geography is destiny, and our destiny includes Turkey as a neighbour and as a country which invaded and by force has taken more than one third of our territory. The consequences of this situation dramatically affect both Greek and Turkish Cypriots and seriously limit the prospects of this island.

Therefore, reunification is not a choice. It is the one-way road that will lead us to prosperity since it will unwrap the full potentials of our island, he said.

Edited from Cyprus Mail