_: The negative stance of the Turkish side was reaffirmed in New York, where the President of Cyprus presented the UN Secretary-General with some new ideas that could pave the way for the resumption of negotiations, but there was no response from the Turkish side, Deputy Government Spokesperson Yiannis Antoniou said on Sunday.

Representing the President of the Republic at the national memorial service for the heroes of the community of Kelokedara, in Paphos district, Antoniou stressed that this development is not the end of the road. 'Certainly, we cannot abandon the effort, because inaction serves the Turkish narrative that there are two states and that a solution based on the agreed framework cannot be achieved,' he said.

'Such a thing is not acceptable, not only to us, but to the international community as well,' he added, noting that the President of the Republic returned from the UN headquarters with an assurance that the basis for a settlement of the Cyprus problem and the negotiating acquis would not be lost with the change in the leadership of the international organisation.

Referring to the continuing Turkish occupation, he stressed that the Republic of Cyprus would neither accept nor legitimise the fait accompli created by the invasion, noting that 'breaking free from the shackles of occupation, the liberation and reunification of our homeland are our foremost priority.'

At the same time, he assured that the basis for a settlement of the Cyprus problem and the negotiating acquis remain unchanged, while describing the vision for the 'transformation of the Republic of Cyprus into a normal state, genuinely free throughout its territory, without an occupying army and without guarantors with unilateral intervention rights.'

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 due to Turkish intransigence. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, whose term nears its end, announced he would convene another meeting in broader format, after adequate preparation, but gave no timeline. He secured to that end the consensus of both sides and of the guarantor powers. Mar­a Angela Holgu­n, Guterres' Personal Envoy on Cyprus, is tasked to engage with the parties. Executive Vice-President Raffaele Fitto acts as the European Commission's Special Representative for Cyprus, succeeding EU special envoy Johannes Hahn.