National Council being briefed on latest Cyprus developments

The National Council was meeting Wednesday morning discuss the latest developments on the Cyprus problem, ahead of the president’s trip to New York later this month where he will attend the UN General Assembly and have a meeting with the Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

President Nicos Anastasiades is briefing the members of the council on the latest developments on the Cyprus issue as well as his proposal to the Turkish Cypriot leader, Ersin Tatar, following statements by the latter on the government`s decision to revoke the RoC passports of 14 Turkish Cypriots, among them Tatar.

Anastasiades on Tuesday evening briefed the members of the Greek Cypriot negotiating team on his proposal to Tatar, suggesting a return to the 1960 constitution. During the meeting, that lasted for over two hours, the members of the team expressed various views and positions both in favour and against the approach to this issue. Tatar said the proposal showed that Anastasiades had lost all credibility.

The meeting of the negotiating team took place with the participation of the Attorney-general, Giorgos Savvides, and the members were also briefed on the decision taken for the Republic of Cyprus to submit a 5th interstate appeal at the European Court of Human Rights of the Council of Europe (ECHR) against Turkey’s plans to alter the status of Varosha, the fenced off area of Turkish occupied Famagusta.

As regards a possible visit by the UNSG`s special envoy, Jane Holl Lute, to Cyprus, a source told CNA that such a visit is not expected to take place within the next weeks. According to the source Lute has cited as reasons for this, developments in Afghanistan and Haiti, noting that the UNSG has given priority to these urgent issues.

Anastasiades will travel to New York later this month where he will participate in the UN General Assembly and will hold a meeting with the UN Secretary General.