Initial indications regarding the course of the negotiations for a solution to the Cyprus issue are not encouraging, stated Sunday President of the Republic Nicos Anastasiades, adding that the struggle which begins now will be difficult.
Speaking at a ceremony for the unveiling of busts of the fallen and the Column of the missing persons, at the Famagusta village of Liopetri, the President of the Republic said that “we fought to achieve a joint communique which would safeguard the basic principles but also the basic ingredients of the solution that is being pursued”.
He also said the Greek Cypriot side “fought to achieve that this state will evolve into a bizonal, bicommunal federation on the basis of the High Level Agreements and the resolutions and decisions of the Security Council of the United Nations with a single international personality, single sovereignty and a single citizenship”.
President Anastasiades added that he fought to exclude suffocating timetables, arbitrations, and for everybody to know that nothing will be agreed upon unless everything is agreed upon and that absolutely no agreement will be accepted if it is not the result of free will, for which, the Cypriot Hellenism and our Turkish Cypriot compatriots will decide through a referendum.
He said “we tried in every way to override all those who were not acting in our benefit and without impartiality for a solution to the Cyprus issue”, adding that we achieved the upgrading of the EU’s presence in the talks and “we hope that the confidence building measures will be such that will create a new dynamic and prospect”.
President Anastasiades said the dialogue has begun and “the first indications are not as encouraging as we would like. That is why the struggle now begins and it will be hard. That is why unity is imperative from all”, the President stressed.
Cyprus was divided in 1974 when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Previous UN-led efforts to reunify the island have failed.
Cyprus talks resumed, under UN auspices, in February, following an agreement on a joint declaration by the leaders of the island’s two communities, Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu.
