President Nicos Anastasiades will be in Athens on Friday to brief Greece’s political leadership on the expected resumption of Cyprus talks.
A diplomatic source told the Cyprus News Agency the next round would be “one of the most decisive phases of the Cyprus problem”.
Anastasiades is expected to explain to the Greek President, the Prime Minister, and the leaders of parliamentary parties other than the nationalist Golden Dawn, that he would be returnning to the negotiating table on condition that Turkey would commit itself not to “engage in other offensive actions”, that there will not be “any other terms”, and that talks will resume “where they were stopped”.
The negotiations were suspended in October 2014, after Turkey issued a nautical advisory and sent a seismic data ship – the Barbaros – to explore for natural gas within Cyprus` exclusive economic zone.
Earlier this month, government spokesman Nicos Christodoulides said the UN special envoy for Cyprus had conveyed to Anastasiades a message from Ankara that, following the withdrawal of the Barbaros, Turkey would not renew its NAVTEX.
“In view of these facts, and taking into consideration our strong desire for a solution to the Cyprus problem the earliest possible, our side is ready to withdraw its decision for the suspension of its participation in the negotiating process,” the spokesman said.
During his Athens visit, Anastasiades is expected to tell the Greek leaders why he judges that, under the conditions, and bearing in mind the election in the north on Sunday for a new Turkish Cypriot leader, that “this is the appropriate moment for the Cyprus problem to enter a substantial phase towards its solution”.
According to other diplomatic sources in Athens, Anastasiades will most probably also refer to the stance of “international players” on the Cyprus issue, namely the UN, the US, Britain, and the EU.
The President will hold talks in Athens with President Prokopis Pavlopoulos, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, ex Prime Minister Antonis Samaras, and leaders of other opposition parties.
“In this phase, the President will reasonably want to gain maximum support and agreement, from wherever this may come,” a senior diplomatic source in Athens told CNA.
(CNA)
