We are not making any concessions, Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades said on Thursday, invited to comment ideas for a decentralised federation in Cyprus.

“We are doing our utmost. We are really interested in finding a settlement which must be functional”, the President noted in statements to the media.  He went on to say that a solution must safeguard the viability of the state and the security of all citizens.

Asked about the issue of the decentralised federation and if such a proposal can help to lift the deadlock, the President said that it depends on whether there will be good faith from the other side.

Anastasiades said that since April 2010, when he was President of the Democratic Rally, he submitted a written note to the National Council suggesting to give more powers to the constituent states in order to make the settlement more viable and functional, maintaining the necessary powers for the central government which will safeguard a one and single sovereignty, a single citizenship, a single international personality and other powers which the central government must have as the country is an EU member state.

Replying to a question, the President reiterated the Greek Cypriot side’s position for the need to abolish the guarantee system for Cyprus.

Asked about information regarding a US military base that operated in Cyprus, the President noting that not even the US State Department or government was aware of this, which was revealed through a report.

He wondered why the Cyprus government is criticized about this and noted that “we give facilities to the Germans, the French, the Italians, the Danish.”

Meanwhile, speaking during an event organised by the Employers and Industrialists Federation, Anastasiades said that a Cyprus settlement will help achieve more growth and prosperity.

He stressed the role of a settlement to stability and peace, adding that the settlement must be viable and functional.

Anastasiades reiterated his determination to engage into a constructive dialogue and expressed hope that dialogue will resume in good faith with a view to achieve a settlement.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37% of its territory. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017, at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively.

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