Any improvement in the Greek-Turkish relations would assist Nicosia's efforts to resume the UN-led stalled talks on the Cyprus problem, President of the Republic Nikos Christodoulides said on Tuesday.
Invited to comment on the meeting between Greek and Turkish Foreign Ministers, George Gerapetritis and Hakan Fidan in Ankara, earlier today, Christodoulides said he has no information yet, noting he will be informed on the meeting's results perhaps tonight.
'Any improvement in the relations between Greece and Turkey, I believe, is something that would assist our efforts to resume the talks for a solution to the Cyprus problem,' he said.
He stressed however that a solution to the Cyprus problem, the progress towards the resumption of the talks would be decisive for the improvement of the Greek-Turkish relations,' recalling that this was also a position outlined by the Greek Prime Minister.
Responding to a question whether Nicosia is satisfied over the fact that the issue of the Turkish violations in the UN buffer zone in Pyla will be discussed in the UN, the President said that 'some deliberations are underway' on the matter.
Noting that no agreement has been reached on the issue, Christodoulides underlined that 'our aim is that there should be no doubt over the buffer zone, as it has been established in 1974, or no advantage should be created for the Turkish occupying forces.'
Replying to questions on the clashes in Limassol last Friday, and whether he received resignations, the President he has 'nothing to report' on the specific issue.
During an emergency meeting convened by the President on Saturday, the government has acknowledged operational failure on behalf of the Police to prevent violence by far-right anti-migrant protestors.
'What I am interested in, is how to deal with an existing problem, which is not called migration, but securing public order,' Christodoulides said.
On the issue of migration, the President reiterated that tackling the problem is a priority for the government, noting readmission of migrants are more than entries in Cyprus, while the pace of the examination of asylum applications has increased. 'I can say with certainty that we will tackle the specific issue,' he went on to say.
Referring to the issue of public safety, Christodoulides said the directives were clear on all that has to be made 'so, I repeat, we would respond to this fundamental state obligation to safeguard public safety.'
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