Foreign Ministers of Greece and Turkey discuss the Cyprus problem
The Cyprus problem was among the issues discussed during a meeting held in New York between the Ministers of Greece and Turkey, Evaggelos Venizelos and Ahmet Davutoglu, respectively.
In statements after the meeting, Venizelos said that they discussed the recent developments of the Cyprus problem adding that the Greek government is ready to meet with the Turkish Cypriot negotiatior at the Cyprus talks which will resume this autumn, provided that the Turkish government meets with the Greek Cypriot negotiator as well.
Meanwhile, according to a source from the Greek Foreign Ministry, Athens and Ankara have already agreed to hold separate meetings with the negotiators of the Turkish Cypriot and the Greek Cypriot communities, respectively.
The same source said that the Greek Foreign Minister has informed his Cypriot counterpart, Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides, on the agreement.
In his statements, Venizelos said that the Turkish FM has already met with UNSG’s Special Advisor for Cyprus, Alexander Downer, adding that he will also hold a meeting with him.
“We can create a new momentum for the Cyprus problem, based on the proposals submitted by the Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades”, he stressed.
The Greek Foreign Minister added that “the Cypriot government has asked us to meet with the Turkish Cypriot negotiator and we are ready to do so, provided that the Turkish government accepts to meet with the Greek Cypriot negotiator. This is very important, it’s a new procedural element, which contributes to the creation of the momentum for the Cyprus issue”, he underlined.
The Foreign Ministers of Greece and Turkey also discussed about issues of mutual concern, including sea zones, the situation in Syria, in Egypt and the wider South Eastern Mediterranean.
The Republic of Cyprus, an EU member state since 2004, has been divided since the Turkish invasion in 1974.
Turkish troops continue until today to occupy 37% of the Cyprus Republic’s territory, despite numerous UNSC resolutions.
Cyprus talks, under the UN auspices, were interrupted by the Turkish side in 2012 because Cyprus assumed the six monthly rotating presidency of the Council of the EU. Turkey is the only country in the world which does not recognize the Republic of Cyprus.
The Cyprus talks are expected to resume this autumn.
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