Cyrpus President Nicos Anastasiades said that US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Victoria Nuland seems to understand the objections of the Greek Cypriot side, speaking to journalists after his meeting with Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci on Thursday.
The President also mentioned that he would possibly be meeting with Nuland in the afternoon, adding that the US Assistant Secretary of State is trying to see if the differences can be bridged.
Asked about today’s meeting with the Turkish Cypriot leader, President Anastasiades said that they discussed the issues of effective participation in governance, decision-making, and potential future amendments of the constitution. He noted that further convergences were observed in some of the issues, however some differences remain and for that reason the discussion will continue tomorrow.
Regarding Nuland’s view on a number of issues the President raised with her, Anastasiades said that she seems to understand the objections of the Greek Cypriot side. He added that what the Greek Cypriot side is trying to achieve is the understanding that “the claims of the other side are not needed”.
According to sources, in his morning meeting with Nuland, the President raised a number of issues that were not directly related to the chapters of the talks, however are causing blocks and sending negative messages about the intentions of the Turkish side.
Asked on Nuland’s visit and if she conveyed anything specific, the President answered that she is attempting to find a way to bridge the differences, if something like that is possible. The President added that if the Turkish Cypriot side has insisted that for some issues “the situation is complicated.”
Regarding the intensified talks and whether or not results have come from them, President Anastasiades replied, “Yes. I believe so.”
“There will be differences, and differences will remain before the completion, if and when there will be such proposals to enable the completion. But I want to believe that we are all working towards that direction and I hope that in the end there will be understanding, on issues where the other side does not have strong arguments on positions that we do not support,” he said.
Source: CNA
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