In a joint statement left-wing party AKEL and Turkish Cypriot United Cyprus party call on Turkey to withdraw the NAVTEX and its ships Cyprus` EEZ so that negotiations may resume immediately.
The two parties at a meeting today at the central offices of AKEL in Nicosia decided also to set up two working groups in order to work out ideas to overcome the existing situation.
A joint statement issued by the two parties says that AKEL and United Cyprus, express their deep concern about the current critical developments in Cyprus and call on the Cypriot people in a common struggle to overcome the impasse and to move forward to achieve our shared vision for peace, freedom and reunification through a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem.
The two parties reminded that whenever Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots swayed by nationalism, thus supporting the interests of foreign countries rather than those of Cyprus and its people, the result was disastrous for the people of both communities.
In this context, the statement continues, we urge both communities to intensify the bicommunal dialogue and contacts, sending the message of common struggle and coexistence. This is a patriotic attitude especially in this context.
Both parties call on Turkey to withdraw the NAVTEX and its ships so as the negotiations to resume immediately. They believe that this issue must be resolved in the context of convergence between Christofias-Talat and Christofias-Eroglu for maritime zones, natural resources and the allocation of federal revenue. The convergences in their entirety should be the basis for further negotiations from the point they were left, the joint statement adds.
They reiterate that the continuing division of Cyprus is unacceptable for both communities – the current status quo threatens the prosperity, peace and the existence of both Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots.
“We reaffirm our readiness to work on rebuilding trust and common understanding between the two communities by promoting bi-communal dialogue and contacts at various levels. The two parties will continue dialogue and cooperation in the interests of the people of Cyprus, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots”, the joint statement concludes.
Turkey, whose troops occupy one third of Cyprus since they invaded in 1974, does not recognise the Republic of Cyprus, an EU member state since 2004.
Numerous rounds of UN-backed talks to reunite the island under a federal roof have failed to yield results. Recently, President of the Republic Nicos Anastasiades decided to suspend his participation in the talks, following Turkey`s provocative acts in the Republic of Cyprus` EEZ.
Turkish seismic exploration vessel Barbaros entered Cyprus` EEZ, a few days after Turkey had issued an illegal maritime order (NAVTEX) for the area.
