A meeting is taking place at the Presidential Palace to discuss Turkey’s demands that the four basic freedoms of the EU and the EU-Turkey customs union be connected to a potential Cyprus solution, CNA reported on Wednesday.
Specialists are attending the meeting in Nicosia, including government spokesperson Nikos Christodoulides, Greek Cypriot negotiator Andreas Mavroyiannis, and officials from the ministries of Foreign Affairs, Interior, Trade, and Agriculture, as well as the island’s Legal Service.
Earlier on Wednesday, Christodoulides said that a second round of the Conference on Cyprus at a political level would be held in the second half of March.
He added that more meetings between President Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci would take place.
NEGOTIATOR’S MEETING ON TUESDAY
On Tuesday, Mavroyiannis met with Turkish Cypriot negotiator Ozdil Nami, where they prepared the agenda for the leaders’ meeting on Thursday.
In relation to the negotiators’ meeting, Christodoulides said that there was no specific result, as decisions would be made at the Anastasiades and Akinci meeting tomorrow.
The government spokesperson also refuted claims that the negotiators’ meeting was not good, saying that Mavroyiannis and Nami exchanged opinions on all chapters of the Cyprus problem.
He added that at tomorrow’s meeting Anastasiades and Akinci will decide on the agenda of the talks, based on the differences presented to them by the negotiators.
TURKISH SIDE SHOULD LIMIT STATEMENTS
The government spokesperson said that public statements on the Cyprus issue should be limited, especially on the Turkish side, as they harm the process at the negotiating table.
He added that there are “sensitive issues” to be discussed on all the chapters, and that the Greek Cypriot side is continuing its efforts.
“We will do whatever possible, so that there results can exist,” he said.
Christodoulides added that the process will not fall apart due to the President.
“If Turkey wants them [the talks] to fall apart, we cannot do something to stop them,” he added.
PARTIES CAN SUBMIT RECOMMENDATIONS
Regarding a National Council meeting to be held on Monday, the government spokesperson said that political party leaders, who disagree with the way the process is being handled, will be invited to submit their recommendations in writing.
MEETING WITH RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR
On Wednesday, President Anastasiades also received Russian Ambassador Stanislav Osadchiy at the Presidential Palace.
According to an announcement from the Presidential Palace, the President informed Osadchiy on the latest developments in the Cyprus problem.
President Anastasiades expressed his gratitude “for the principled position of the Russian Federation through the years on the Cyprus problem, as well as for its readiness to contribute positively to the efforts to achieve a solution without the presence of any anachronistic guarantees.”
Read more here.
RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations , Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report
