President Nicos Anastasiades has said that what needs to be decided during Sunday’s dinner with Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci is the resumption of the UN peace talks based on realistic proposals that will be to the benefit of the people of Cyprus and will not serve the interests of any third country.

The President was invited by the press on Saturday, following a doxology for the anniversary of the anti-colonial liberation struggle of 1955-1959, held at St. John’ s Cathedral in Nicosia, to comment on conditions and prerequisites that the Turkish Cypriot side wants to raise at the negotiating table in order for the talks to resume.

Anastasiades noted that those who are aware of the need to speed up the solution process, should proceed to the talks without any conditions. He also underlined that they must, at the same time, realize that for the past 43 years, the Greek Cypriot side is making efforts to solve the Cyprus problem, taking into consideration the Turkish Cypriot concerns.

The President recalled that the Turkish Cypriot side must comprehend that support for a solution must be proved in deeds and not only in words.

He added that their proposals must respond to the establishment of a modern state that does not overlook any citizen’s rights or legitimate concerns. Anastasiades went on to say that this can be decided during Sunday’s dinner with the Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci, if we all respect the same goal thus the resumption of the dialogue.

Referring to the anniversary of the anti-colonial liberation struggle of 1955-1959, the President said that April 1st is an historic day for the people of Cyprus, adding that his presence today at the celebrations is only a manifestation of the honor the state grants to those who gave their lives in the fight against the colonial rule and for freedom.

He pointed out that nobody can ignore this day, regardless in which community he belongs, adding that the anti-colonial struggle led to the foundation of the Republic of Cyprus which everyone must respect.

The President also said that our efforts today, following the 1974 events, aim at the evolution of the Cyprus Republic based on a federal structure and the principles and values ​​of the EU, the international law and the acquis communautaire.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. UN-backed efforts to reunify the island under a federal roof were suspended when Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci walked out of a meeting in mid February, claiming that a House decision to commemorate, briefly, in school a 1950 referendum advocating union with Greece was in fact a shift in the long standing position of the Greek Cypriot side for a bicommunal, bizonal federal solution in Cyprus.

President of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades has described the decision “wrong”, saying the timing was not right. Akinci said he would not return to the negotiations unless the decision is revoked. The House is set to vote on an amendment on the bill, which essentially annuls the earlier House decision, on Friday 7 April.

The two leaders will meet on Sunday during a dinner hosted by the UN. It will be the first time the leaders meet since Akinci walked out of the talks.