Political leaders briefed on Cyprob developments

President Nicos Anastasiades on Monday briefed political party leaders on the state of play with regard to Turkey’s growingly aggressive rhetoric toward Cyprus and Greece, while arranging for a new high-level meeting to see how the island can quickly tap funds from the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility.

During a session of the National Council, Anastasiades gave party leaders a recap of developments on the Cyprus issue since the body last convened.

According to a statement later released by government spokesman Marios Pelekanos, the president and the political leadership discussed “the new Turkish provocations, as well as the coordination between the governments of Greece and Cyprus…”

Anastasiades also said the government is currently studying the ‘economic cooperation protocol’ recently signed between the north and Turkey. Once this is done, he would be sending letters about the issue to the UN Secretary-General, to the EU and to the United States.

The president would also brief foreign institutions and leaders about the Turkish side’s refusal to proceed with Confidence-Building Measures.

Anastasiades said that the Republic would not cease its efforts vis a vis the Cyprus issue until two goals were achieved.

“First, of course, that any unlawful activities by Turkey and the occupation regime must stop; and secondly, to bring back the Cyprus problem into a settlement orbit and return to the negotiating table.”

On the economy, the discussion revolved around ways in which Nicosia can draw the funds allocated to it through the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility.

This discussion will resume in greater detail at another meeting planned in the coming days between the finance minister and party leaders accompanied by their chief economy cadres.

The goal, said the spokesman, is to quickly pass the reforms and legislation required to be eligible for the EU funds.

Priority would be given to a bill now in parliament concerning the status of debt guarantors – pushing this item through would allow Cyprus to formally request the release of the first tranche.