President of the Republic Nicos Anastasiades will meet President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola on Friday in Nicosia where he is expected to inform her on the unacceptable positions promoted by Turkey and Turkish Cypriots and the President’s proposals which aim to break the deadlock and push efforts for a Cyprus solution.
The President will also have a number of activities during the week which will cover a wide range of issues.
In a written statement, Director of the President’s Press Office, Andreas Iosif said on Saturday that during the President’s meeting with Metsola on Friday, 9th September at the Presidential Palace, President Anastasiades will brief the EP president on the latest developments on the Cyprus issue, Turkey’s provocative actions on the ground and in the Republic’s EEZ. He will also inform her on the unacceptable positions put forward by Turkey and Turkish Cypriots and the President’s proposals which aim to break the deadlock and advance efforts for a Cyprus solution.
In July, Metsola in a letter to President Anastasiades in July, repeated the EP’s condemnation over the continued violations by Turkey of Security Council resolutions 550 (1984) and 789 (1992). She also said she shares Anastasiades’ view that Turkish provocations in the enclosed city of Varosha undermine confidence-building efforts, as well as the prospect of resuming talks aimed at resolving the Cyprus problem.
Metsola also welcomed Anastasiades’ proposals for Confidence Building Measures and agreed that these, in addition to the benefits for Greek and Turkish Cypriots, could pave the way for a solution to the Cyprus problem on the basis of the relevant Security Council resolutions and the principles and values on which the European Union is founded.
On Tuesday, 6 September, President Anastasiades will sign the agreement for the installation, development and operation of an integrated computerised digital transformation system for schools. On Wednesday, 7th September, he will chair a cabinet meeting and, in the evening, will attend an event at CyBC to honour former members of the corporation.
On Thursday, 8th September, he will sign the contracts for the construction of the Astromeritis – Evrychou road. The road is included in the National Development Strategy of Cyprus Mountainous Communities and is considered a priority. Later in the evening, he will attend a charity dinner at the Presidential palace, organised by the Independent Social Support Body which continues to fund students who face financial problems to continue and complete their studies.
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.
President Anastasiades conveyed a proposal on Confidence Building Measures through a letter to the Turkish Cypriot leader and the UN, last May, including provisions for the operation of the airport, located in Turkish-occupied Tymbou, under the UN, and the return of legal residents to Varosha, the fenced off part of Famagusta.
The proposed package of measures also provides for European Commission involvement in trade through Famagusta port and the implementation by Ankara of the Additional Protocol, allowing Cypriot-flagged vessels to access ports in Turkey. An escrow account for revenues from hydrocarbon activities, to be accessed by the Turkish Cypriot community is also proposed, provided that Cyprus and Turkey delineate their exclusive economic zones. The Turkish Cypriot side dismissed the package, proposing instead a set of “cooperation proposals” between two “states” in areas such as electricity, renewable energy, water and hydrocarbons.
Source: Cyprus News Agency