German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, expressed on Wednesday his support to a Cyprus settlement providing for a bizonal, bicommunal federation, noting that Berlin will do its utmost for the resumption of the dialogue on the Cyprus problem, on the basis of the international law.
He was speaking during a joint press conference in Berlin with Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades, after the talks they had. Both Anastasiades and Scholz agreed to have closer cooperation on the energy field and on the migration issue.
As regards the Cyprus problem, President Anastasiades made clear that “there is no possibility of a solution on the basis of what Turkey unreasonably and contrary to the international law demands for a two-state solution.”
Anastasiades called on Turkey to change its stance as “the protracted tension will worsen the relations between Turkey and the EU, by insisting to a solution that will not be based on the UN resolutions. The only thing that Turkey will achieve is its exclusion,” he added.
On his part, Chancellor Scholz underlined that “the relationship of the Republic of Cyprus with Turkey is important and problems need to be solved through dialogue, on the basis of the international law.”
Moreover he noted the very good opportunities of cooperation in the field of energy, adding that “my impression is that Cyprus is willing to contribute towards this direction and we hope that other countries will do so as well.”
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. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively.
Source: Cyprus News Agency