The Cyprus issue, investments and energy will be the focus of President of the Republic of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades` visit to New York, Government Spokesman Nikos Christodoulides has said.

In statements to the press, Christodoulides, who will be accompanying the President to his trip to the US, said that the President will meet with the UNSG Antonio Guterres, British Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Boris Johnson and officials from other countries.

During this meetings, he pointed out, the President will present the current state of affairs as regards the Cyprus issue and will stress the importance of the Cyprus talks to be resumed, after being interrupted last month by the Turkish Cypriot side.
The Spokesman said that the President will also stress that no positions should be raised which are not in line with the EU principles and values or fall outside the agreed framework for a solution of the Cyprus issue.

He was also invited to comment on a story published today by daily `Phileleftheros` which reports that UNSG`s Special Advisor for Cyprus, Espen Barth Eide told foreign Ambassadors in Nicosia that the key for the continuation of the Cyprus talks is in Nicosia and not in a third country.

Christodoulides said that everyone knows why there is stagnation right now at the negotiating table and added that the UN Secretary General himself knows that the responsibility lies with Turkey.

He also referred to the other contacts the President will hold in New York.

It is noted that the President will attend the “Invest in Cyprus” Forum organized by Capital Link in cooperation with the Cyprus Shipowners` Association, the Cyprus Investment Promotion Agency and the Chambers of Commerce of Cyprus and the USA.

Christodoulides said that the Cyprus economy is on the right track and underlined the huge efforts on behalf of the government, the House of Representatives and the people of Cyprus to this respect.

He referred to the recent upgrades of the Cypriot economy by rating agencies, saying that we must attract more investments in Cyprus since the country is recognized as a pillar of stability in the region.

The Spokesman said that the Cypriot President will hold a series of important meetings with heads of energy companies that are actively involved in Cyprus or companies that wish to be engaged.

Replying to questions about Nicosia`s relations with the new US government, Christodoulides said that the government has already begun meetings with the new US administration and stressed that their excellent relations will continue and be further strengthened, not only as regards the Cyprus issue but on the bilateral level as well.

Concluding, he said that it is important the Cyprus` stability role in the region is being recognized.

The President departs for New York on the 19th of March.

The Republic of Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. UN led talks between the Greek Cypriot and the Turkish Cypriot communities resumed in May 2015 with a view to reunite the island under a federal roof.

The talks were interrupted in mid February by the Turkish Cypriot side, which demands that a decision passed by the Cypriot Parliament relating to a 1950 referendum on union with Greece is revoked, claiming this indicates a shift in the Greek Cypriot side`s goal for a federal solution. The amendment provides that there will be a very brief reference to the referendum at schools.

President Anastasiades has described the House decision as wrong and called on the leader of the Turkish Cypriot leader, Mustafa Akinci, who walked out of the talks, to return to the negotiating table to discuss pending issues with a view to reach a mutually acceptable agreement to reunite the country.