Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades called on the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell to convey to the Turkish side “the EU`s position on the need to remain within the agreed framework and United Nations resolutions” and to contribute to the creation of favourable conditions for the resumption of talks for the settlement of the Cyprus problem, during a meeting he had with him on the sidelines of the extraordinary European Council Summit in Brussels.

In particular, in a written statement issued after the meeting, Government Spokesperson Kyriacos Koushos said that “during the meeting, the President of the Republic once again expressed strong concern about the unacceptable demands for a two-state solution that the Turkish Cypriot leader has submitted in writing in Geneva, with the full support of Turkey, but also for the recent demand of the Turkish side, for the recognition of the occupation regime as a condition for the continuation of the negotiation process.”

Koushos noted that at the same time, President Anastasiades expressed to Borrell “his readiness to respond positively, when and if invited by the Secretary General to a new meeting on Cyprus, so that there is common ground to bring the two sides into a fruitful dialogue, with substantial prospects for a solution.”

The President, he continued, “stressed the need to continue the negotiation process on the basis of the convergences achieved so far, as the Secretary General points out in his letter dated 26 October 2020, as well as in the Joint Declaration of 25 November 2019 in Berlin.”

According to the Government Spokesperson the President “further emphasised that the solution must be based on the agreed framework of the bi-zonal bicommunal federation with political equality, as defined in the relevant United Nations resolutions, and is, of course, compatible with the European acquis.”

Koushos further said that, “President Anastasiades asked the High Representative to convey to the Turkish side the EU`s position on the need to remain within the agreed framework and the UN resolutions and to show similar determination with our side and a constructive attitude, for the creation of favourable conditions for the resumption of talks for the settlement of the Cyprus problem. ”

Finally, he added, “the President of the Republic stressed that the positive attitude of Cyprus at the forthcoming European Council in June, during which Euro-Turkish relations will be discussed, will depend on Turkey`s behaviour in both the Cyprus issue and Varosha, refraining from provocative actions at sea and on land and fulfilling its contractual obligations to the EU and all its Member States.”

President Anastasiades stressed to the HRVP that without a positive attitude from the Turkish side “it would be impossible to offer a positive agenda to Turkey in the Euro-Turkish relations”, the Government Spokesperson concluded.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results.

Varosha is the fenced off section of the Turkish occupied town of Famagusta, often described as ‘ghost town’. UN Security Council resolution 550 (1984) considers any attempts to settle any part of Varosha by people other than its inhabitants as inadmissible and calls for the transfer of this area to the administration of the UN.