Christodoulides stresses urgency for renewed negotiations
President Nikos Christodoulides underlined the EU’s critical role in the Cyprus talks, during today’s meeting at the Presidential Palace with the EU Special Representative for the Cyprus issue, Johannes Hahn. Welcoming him in the presence of Deputy Minister for European Affairs Marilena Raouna, the President said that if reaching a settlement depended solely on him, “we would already have a solution.”
He expressed hope that both his meeting with the Turkish Cypriot leader later today and Hahn’s upcoming contacts- including a long-awaited meeting with the Turkish Cypriot leader- would pave the way for the resumption of negotiations.
“We lost 2.5 years – now we must discuss substance”
Christodoulides reiterated that Cyprus has lost valuable time, stressing that now is the moment to address core issues. He reaffirmed his intention to return to the negotiating table from the point where talks were halted in the summer of 2017.
“The EU’s involvement, your involvement, can help open the path for restarting negotiations and ultimately achieving a solution to the Cyprus problem,” he told Hahn.
Hahn: “It is time for results”
Hahn noted that, after many difficult moments, an opportunity now appears to exist — not necessarily the last one, but a significant chance nonetheless. He emphasised that Europe is counting on the President to build a constructive relationship with the Turkish Cypriot leader, enabling progress both toward restarting talks and finding a lasting, positive settlement.
Responding, President Christodoulides reiterated: “Be sure that if it depended on me, we would have a solution.”
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