EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell is currently in Cyprus, where he was received at the Presidential Palace by Nikos Anastasiadis.
Mr. Anastasiadis and Mr. Borel first had a private meeting, which lasted more than half an hour, as broadcast by AMPE. Enlarged talks between the two sides followed, which were also attended by Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulidis, Agriculture Minister Costas Kadis, government spokesman Kyriakos I. Kousios and officials.
During the meeting, they exchanged views on the developments in Cyprus and the prospects for the informal meeting convened by the UN Secretary-General in Geneva on 27-29 April, as well as for the forthcoming European Council, during which Euro-Turkish issues are expected to be discussed.
The President of the Republic had the opportunity to refer to his acceptance of the invitation extended to him by the Secretary-General for the informal meeting in Geneva, reiterating his readiness to participate in it with a sincere political will, in order to enable the resumption of the negotiation process the sooner. He also stressed that the resumption of talks should be based on the already existing workload and the Berlin Joint Declaration of 25 November 2019, as well as be within the parameters of United Nations (UN) resolutions and resolutions and be in line with with the principles and values of the European Union.
For his part, Mr. Borel reiterated the EU’s readiness to be represented in the new process and, more generally, to actively support the effort to achieve a comprehensive and sustainable settlement of the Cyprus problem, which should be within the framework set by the UN and in line with the UN Security Council resolutions on Cyprus, as well as the founding values and the EU acquis.
Regarding Euro-Turkish, Mr. Anastasiadis stressed that what is expected from Turkey, if it wants to be given any positive agenda, is to show a practical and sincere will to improve its relations with the EU and with all its independent Member States, something that goes beyond, among other things, its stance on Cyprus. In addition, any de-escalation of tensions caused by Turkey should last, including its illegal actions, both in relation to the besieged city of Famagusta and within the Cyprus Exclusive Economic Zone.
The President of the Republic stood even more specifically in immigrant, which is one of the topics to be raised at this month’s European Council, recalling the problems created in Cyprus by the influx of refugees from Turkey, something for which solutions must also be found at EU level.
Referring to the same issue, Mr. Borel said that the March European Council will be one opportunity for EU leaders to assess Euro-Turkish relations and that de-escalation, as well as progress on issues such as the Cyprus issue, are key to developing a mutually beneficial value-based relationship between the EU and Turkey.
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