President of the Republic Nicos Anastasiades has described as unacceptable statements made by Turkish President Tayip Erdogan on Cyprus, adding that they undermine the climate of confidence that is needed.

 

Speaking to the press following a meeting with the British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and invited to comment on Erdogan’s statements, the President said that such statements do not help nor do they indicate a will to contribute to a Cyprus solution, which the Turkish President claims he has.

 

“At the same time, they undermine the climate of confidence that should be cultivated and must exist,” Anastasiades pointed out.

 

Erdogan criticised on Tuesday the use of the Cypriot flag at European meetings, claiming that the flag shows the whole island and gives the impression that Cyprus is only Greek.

 

Asked about his meeting with Johnson, the President said that he conveyed the interest of the UK in order to find an acceptable solution within the framework of the principles of international law and the EU.

 

He said that he briefed the British Foreign Secretary extensively on the Cyprus problem and reiterated his readiness to resume the talks even tomorrow on the outstanding issues, including the territorial aspect of the Cyprus problem.

 

“If we reach the criteria as had been agreed before the UN peace talks in Mont Pelerin, Switzerland, we are ready to attend a multilateral conference in order to conclude the negotiations,” President Anastasiades added.

 

He pointed out, replying to a question, that “we continue to stress the need to reflect any criteria on territorial adjustments in a map, before we attend a multilateral meeting.”

 

Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci have been engaged in UN backed talks with the aim to reunite the island under a federal roof. Their last meetings, on territory, ended inconclusively as there was no agreement on the criteria for territorial adjustments to help the process move forward. Since then diplomatic efforts have intensified to help resume the peace talks.

 

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third.

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