UBP blocks declaration on Turkey and return to talks

By Evie Andreou

A joint declaration calling Turkey to withdraw its ships from the Cyprus EEZ and President Anastasiades to return to the negotiation table was opposed by Turkish Cypriot Leader’s National Unity party (UBP) at the bi-communal meeting of the political parties yesterday.

Despite the UBP objection, representatives of the Greek Cypriot parties that participated at the meeting (DISY and AKEL) expressed their satisfaction since for the first time parties from both sides agreed on common action on a very important issue like the presence of Turkish vessels in the island’s EEZ.

Reportedly tensions rose at the meeting between representatives of the UBP and the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) during the discussion of a joint declaration.

DISY MP Nicos Tornaritis said that UBP’s rejection of the joint declaration sends its own messages.

He added that the presence of the parties at the meeting was imperative since the enemy is the occupation force and not the Turkish Cypriot citizens that are represented by their parties.

“Turkey’s threats should not become a bicommunal dispute,” said Christos Christophides members of AKEL’s central committee.

The only Greek Cypriot parties that participated were DISY, AKEL and the United Democrats (EDY).

The next bi-communal meeting of the parties will take place in November 26 at the Ledra Palace Hotel in the UN-controlled buffer zone.

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