Developments in Ukraine were discussed on Thursday evening, during a session of the National Council, at the Presidential Palace, chaired by the President of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades. Members of the top advisory body to the President on the Cyprus issue were also informed on a proposal put forward by the President on Confidence Building Measures.
In statements after the National Council, Government Spokesman Marios Pelekanos said that the session took place in a spirit of unity. Members discussed developments following Russia’s invasion in Ukraine, concerning both the political aspect and possible geopolitical developments, as well as the economic aspect and the expected impact on the Cypriot economy, he added.
Pelekanos went on to say that the President informed political leaders on the proposals of the Greek Cypriot side on Confidence Building Measures, as well as about his contacts and those of the Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides in a bid to promote these proposals.
“Apart from the mutual benefits for the two sides, the aim of these proposals remains to create the conditions for the resumption of the negotiations process aiming at a Cyprus settlement on the basis of UN Security Council resolutions,” the Spokesman noted.
He said moreover that during the session, political leaders expressed opinions, reservations and submitted their suggestions.
The government will continue to monitor closely developments on the issue of Ukraine, in order to properly evaluate it and take timely preventive or other measures deemed necessary, Pelekanos 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.
In his last report to the Security Council, on his mission of good offices in Cyprus, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged, among other things, the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders to work together on confidence-building measures, noting that mechanisms of dialogue and rapprochement, such as these “are of particular importance and can, in the absence of fully-fledged negotiations rekindle hope among the population that progress between the parties can indeed still be made.”
Source: Cyprus News Agency