A Commission spokesperson confirmed the address of a joint letter by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa to the UN Secretary General on the Cyprus problem, speaking to the Cyprus News Agency on Tuesday.
“We can confirm that the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, yesterday addressed a letter to the UN Secretary-General in relation to the meeting on Cyprus organised by the UN in Geneva,” the spokesperson said.
“They expressed the EU’s full support to the UN efforts in the organisation of the Cyprus informal settlement meeting,” he added.
“They also reiterated the EU firm commitment to the reunification of Cyprus, through a comprehensive settlement on the basis of a bizonal and bicommunal federation, and in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and in line with the principles, values and legislation of the EU,” he further noted.
“Given the importance of the process, the EU stands ready to play its role and step up its efforts to support it,” he said.
“We very much hope that the meeting this week in Geneva will bring further progress and could pave the way to formal negotiations,” he 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 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 announced an expanded meeting, in Geneva, on March 17 and 18, to exchange views with the Cyprus President and the Turkish Cypriot leader on ways of achieving progress on the Cyprus issue, following their informal dinner on October 15, 2024, in New York. Representatives from Greece, Turkey and the UK are also attending the meeting.
Also read: EU Council and Commission send joint letter to UNSG on Cyprus
Source: CNA
