Borrell says EU supports resumption of Cyprus talks from where they stopped

The EU’s position is that talks for the settlement of the Cyprus problem must resume from where they left off in Crans-Montana in 2017, High Representative Josep Borrell told President Nicos Anastasiades on Tuesday evening during a telephone conversation

According to government spokesman Kyriacos Koushos, Borrell briefed Anastasiades about his telephone communication with the newly elected Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar.

“Mr Borrell also informed the president about the position of the EU regarding the efforts to resolve the Cyprus issue and more specifically that the negotiations should start from the point they left off in Crans-Montana,” Koushos said in a written statement.

The High Representative also noted, Koushos said, that the EU will contribute to the efforts to resume the talks for a successful outcome.

Anastasiades, he added, raised the issue of Turkish provocations in the fenced area of Varosha in the occupied part of Famagusta “and pointed out that Turkey’s unilateral provocative and illegal actions should cease so that the right atmosphere, necessary for the continuation of the talks is created.”

Koushos said the goal was the solution of the Cyprus problem.

Anastasiades, in the meantime, is expected on Wednesday to brief political leaders on developments on the Cyprus issue after Tatar’s election.

The Cyprus News Agency, citing sources, reported that the meeting at 9am was convened to discuss the next steps in view of the expected initiative of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to convene an informal five-party summit.

Anastasiades had a telephone conversation on Monday afternoon with Guterres’ special envoy for Cyprus Jane Holl Lute, who informed him that she intends to visit the island at the end of November as part of her preliminary contacts to explore the prospects for the five-party summit.

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