President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, expressed on Monday the European Union’s commitment to the United Nations Security Council resolutions on Cyprus, during a telephone conversation he had with the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, in view of the informal expanded meeting on the Cyprus issue to be hosted in Geneva on March 17-18.
According to a written statement by the Government Spokesman, Konstantinos Letymbiotis, the President of the Republic and the President of the European Council had a discussion in view of the expanded meeting to be hosted in Geneva on March 17-18, under the auspices of the UN Secretary General, in the context of efforts to resume negotiations for a Cyprus settlement from the point they have been suspended.
Letymbiotis noted that the President of the European Council reiterated the EU’s common positions aiming to support the efforts of the Republic of Cyprus and underlined the commitment to the relevant UN Security Council resolutions.
Furthermore, he said that President Christodoulides and President Costa exchanged views on the issues to be discussed during the European Council meeting to be held after the conclusion of the Geneva informal meeting.
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 expected to attend the meeting.
Also read: UN remains committed to supporting Cypriot leaders
Photo source: Getty images
Source: CNA
