The EU’s supporting role in the new initiative of the UN Secretary General for the resumption of negotiations on the Cyprus problem is decisive and essential, said Government Spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis, in view of the visit by the new President-elect of the European Council, Antonio Costa, to Cyprus tomorrow, Wednesday.
Speaking after the end of the National Council meeting, Letymbiotis said that the former Prime Minister of Portugal was elected President of the European Council last June and will take office next December.
In preparation for his official assumption of office, he added, Costa is visiting EU Member States as to formulate policies and common approaches for the next critical period for the EU institutions.
According to the Government Spokesperson, Antonio Costa will be received by the President of the Republic Nikos Christodoulides at the Presidential Palace, where they will have a private meeting, followed by a visit to the walled city of Nicosia and a tour along the Green Line.
He added that President Christodoulides will then host a working lunch with the President of the European Council in the presence of their delegations.
“The visit of the President of the European Council to Cyprus takes place at a time when the EU itself is called upon to define the key priorities for the next period, but also at a time when the UN Secretary General has taken an initiative aimed at the resumption of negotiations on the Cyprus issue, with the EU’s supporting role in this new initiative of the Secretary General being certainly decisive and essential”, noted Letymbiotis.
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