The President of the Republic Nikos Anastasiadis had a very constructive meeting with European Commission President, Jean Claude Juncker, in Brussels today, according to Government Spokesman Nikos Christodoulides.

The Spokesman informed the press on the common ground between the two Presidents on the issue of the four EU fundamental freedoms, but also the issue of harmonization of Turkish Cypriots with aquis communautaire.

He clarified that the first issue is exclusively an EU issue and in no case a bilateral problem. As for the second, it goes hand in hand with the negotiations, he explained.

“Today’s meeting was very constructive. The President of the Republic briefed President Juncker on the latest developments in the Cyprus problem, he expressed his regret for the decision of the Turkish Cypriot side to withdraw from the negotiating table, expressing at the same time his wish and readiness to immediately resume negotiations. It was a common view that we will explore, at the talks, any prospects to resolve the Cyprus problem and in this context the hope was expressed that it will soon be possible to resume them,” he said.

He added that “the unacceptable Turkish request for the four basic freedoms was also discussed, which cannot be accepted under any circumstances. It was a common belief that this is a problem for all Member States, and by no means a problem exclusively concerning the Republic of Cyprus. The President expressed his satisfaction with what he heard from the President of the European Commission and the Member States reactions so far, in response the letter he has sent them”.

Christodoulides said that “the issue of Britain`s exit from the EU was also discussed, and in particular aspects affecting the Republic of Cyprus, and there was also an exchange of views on the discussions due to begin today on the Future of Europe”.

Asked to comment on what the Cypriot position in relation to the latter, he replied: “the President will express the need that through the discussions starting today which are expected to conclude at the end of 2017, the EU should emerge stronger, more effective and all decisions should meet the expectations of Europeans.”

In relation to the issue of harmonization of Turkish Cypriots and that this process will go hand – in hand with the UN-led negotiations on the Cyprus problem, the Government Spokesman clarified that “it was perfectly understandable, as described also in the letter of the President of Republic to the President of the Commission, that the relevant working group works in conjunction with the talks to solve the Cyprus problem. We hope that the Turkish side will return soon to the negotiating table so that it becomes feasible for all committees related to the negotiations to continue their work.”

The Republic of Cyprus, an EU member since 2004, has been divided since the 1974 Turkish invasion. UN – led talks between the Greek Cypriot and the Turkish Cypriot communities resumed in May 2015 with a view to reunite the island under a federal roof. The talks were interrupted in mid February by the Turkish Cypriot side, which demands that a decision passed by the Cypriot Parliament relating to a 1950 referendum on union with Greece is revoked, claiming this indicates a shift in Greek Cypriot goal for a federal solution. The amendment notes that there will be a very brief reference to the referendum at schools.

President Anastasiades has described the House decision as wrong and called on the leader of the Turkish Cypriot side, Mustafa Akinci, who walked out of the talks, to return to the negotiating table to discuss pending issues with a view to reaching a mutually acceptable agreement to reunite the country.

The Turkish side has demanded that Turkish nationals in Cyprus should be granted the four EU fundamental freedoms which European citizens enjoy, even if Turkey is not an EU member state.