President Nicos Anastasiades is pleased because the discussion that has began at the National Council as regards the way forward in the Cyprus issue is a productive one, Government Spokesman Nicos Christodoulides had said.

Speaking to the press following the discussion on Monday that lasted approximately four hours, the Spokesman said that the Council will reconvene tomorrow morning, adding that further meetings will be needed to complete the discussion.

Replying to a question the Spokesman said that the government has expressed its readiness, as it was also expressed at the negotiations table , in order for the prospects to be created that will allow us to be optimistic about a positive outcome.

Asked about the proposals placed by the political parties and how the President is going to make use of them, Christodoulides said that a very productive dialogue took place  and at the end of the debate the government will examine how all these proposals and suggestions will be used and to what extent we can have a common approach.

He said that there is absolute respect to different approaches, views or considerations and at the end what we have is a productive discussion. He did not make any comments on the proposals, and asked the press to be patient until the conclusion of the meeting.

Replying to another question about the presence of Greek FM Nikos Kotzias at tomorrow’s meeting of the National Council, expected to start at ten in the morning, the Spokesman said that he is attending in the framework of the coordination between Athens and Nicosia for the next steps and, more specifically, as regards the issues of security and guarantees.
He pointed out that the Greek government is not involved in the internal aspects of the Cyprus problem.

As regards the drilling at Block 11 of the Cyprus’ Exclusive Economic Zone, conducted by Total-Eni and the Turkish provocations, the Spokesman said that everything goes according to the planning and statements will be made when there is a need.

The drilling vessel West Capella is at the well location, about 180km south of Limassol and within 8km from the Cyprus-Egypt EEZ boundary.
Cyprus’ government has already declared two NAVTEX, securing the area around Onesiphoros (Block 11) .
Turkey has warned Cyprus to refrain from taking ‘one-sided measures has also threatened the oil and gas companies drilling in Cyprus’ EEZ and spoke of heightening tension in the region.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied its northern part. UN-backed talks that took place on June 28-July 7, in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, ended inconclusively. Peace talks aim to reunite Cyprus under a federal roof.