President of the Republic of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades expressed Wednesday his willingness to continue the efforts for the resumption of the Cyprus negotiations during a lunch hosted by the Ambassador of France, on the occasion of the upcoming conclusion of the French Presidency of the Council of the EU.
According to a press release issued by the Presidency, in his address at the event, which was attended by the Ambassadors of the EU member states at the residence of the French Ambassador in Nicosia, President Anastasiades said that there is a parallel between the Ukrainian and the Cyprus issues, noting that the Russian pretext for the invasion in Ukraine is the same as the one used by Turkey in 1974 when Ankara invaded Cyprus.
President Anastasiades also made extensive reference to Turkey’s provocations and aggressive rhetoric against the Republic of Cyprus, as well as its claims for “two states” in Cyprus in violation of international law.
He assured the Ambassadors of the EU member states that until the last day of his term in office, he will not stop the efforts for the resumption of the negotiations for the settlement of the Cyprus problem on the basis of a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation as provided by the relevant UN Security Council resolutions.
The President of the Republic also referred to Immigration, saying that Cyprus is faced with a serious problem, since it receives a disproportionate burden compared to other European countries, due to migration flows, and especially flows from the Turkish occupied territories. He noted that asylum seekers have reached 5% of the population, and said that immigration is an issue that the EU must address collectively.
Regarding the energy crisis caused by the war in Ukraine, the President said that the current conditions can act as a catalyst for new energy corridors, noting that Cyprus can play a role in this collective EU effort.
He added that it is imperative that we remain focused on diplomatic efforts to end the Russian aggression in a way that reflects Ukraine’s will.
Concluding, he referred to the achievements of the French Presidency of the Council of the EU on issues such as Climate Change, the Common European Asylum System and EU Security and Defense.
Source: Cyprus News Agency