Conditions good for talks resumption, Tsipras, Anastasiades say

A repeat of the violation of the island’s exclusive economic zone by Turkey would make it impossible for reunification talks to continue, President Nicos Anastasiades said during a visit to Greece on Friday.

“Without wanting to be negative, if last October’s phenomena are repeated it will not be possible for the dialogue to continue any further.”

Anastasiades made the comment during a joint news conference with Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras.

He was referring to Turkey’s action of sending a research vessel inside the island’s EEZ in response to the Republic’s hydrocarbon exploration. Ankara had also issued a navigational telex (navtex) warning that it would be carrying out seismic surveys in areas that Cyprus had earmarked for exploration.

Anastasiades and Tsipras said the withdrawal of the Turkish seismic vessel Barbaros from the EEZ and Turkey’s non-renewal of the navtex allowed the Greek Cypriot side to return to the negotiating table.

Anastasiades traveled to Athens to brief the Greek government and the country’s political leadership on the latest developments in the Cyprus problem, in view of the expected resumption of the talks.

Tsipras said conditions for the resumption of negotiations aiming at a just and viable solution to the Cyprus problem have started to improve following Barbaros’ withdrawal and the expiry the navtex.

Anastasiades spoke of a solution as soon as possible, based on previous agreements between the two sides.
“We want a solution of enduring peace that will permanently end the current unacceptable situation,” he said.

He conveyed the gratitude of the Cypriot people for the support and help provided by Greece, and offered assurances of Cyprus’ support to Greece’s efforts to address the humanitarian crisis faced by the country.

Tsipras said a tripartite meeting on energy will be held soon in Nicosia, with the participation of Cyprus, Greece and Egypt. He expressed hope that Turkey would take part in such a meeting at some point.

The Cyprus Mail is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Cyprus. It was established in 1945 and today, with its popular and widely-read website, the Cyprus Mail is among the most trusted news sites in Cyprus. The newspaper is not affiliated with any political parties and has always striven to maintain its independence. Over the past 70-plus years, the Cyprus Mail, with a small dedicated team, has covered momentous events in Cyprus’ modern history, chronicling the last gasps of British colonial rule, Cyprus’ truncated independence, the coup and Turkish invasion, and the decades of negotiations to stitch the divided island back together, plus a myriad of scandals, murders, and human interests stories that capture the island and its -people. Observers describe it as politically conservative.