President Nicos Anastasiades spoke briefly with his Turkish counterpart Tayyip Erdogan during the Euro-Atlantic meeting in Madrid and reiterated his readiness to resume negotiations towards a lasting solution to the Cyprus problem.
Details of Anastasiades’ participation in the Euro-Atlantic meeting that brought together 36 leaders from the EU and Nato on Wednesday evening were given by government spokesman Marios Pelekanos and carried by the Cyprus News Agency, where it was emphasised that the president briefed his counterparts on the need to resolve the Cyprus problem.
Anastasiades stated that the Cyprus problem remains an “open wound” which threatens the peace, stability and security in the Eastern Mediterranean and Europe.
Pleasure to attend Euro-Atlantic working dinner in Madrid hosted by dear PM of 🇪🇸 @sanchezcastejon. Stressed that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has set off seismic consequences, going beyond conventional security: food crisis, energy security, refugee situation, hybrid warfare. pic.twitter.com/Uf9fey7Zmq
— Nicos Anastasiades (@AnastasiadesCY) June 29, 2022
The government spokesman told the media that Anastasiades spoke to Erdogan and emphasised the Republic’s willingness to resume negotiations under the auspices of the UN, to find a solution which is beneficial for all Cypriots.
Such a solution, Anastasiades was quoted as saying, will enhance security in the region, while improving Greek-Turkish and EU-Turkish relations.
Elsewhere, Anastasiades spoke during his turn at the dinner and addressed the 36 leaders present – praising and pressing the need for closer EU-Nato cooperation to deal with the current crisis, namely Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Reminded everybody of open wound in Cyprus 🇨🇾. As long as Cyprus issue remains unresolved, it will pose a threat to peace & security in the East Med and Europe in general. Turkey should engage constructively in the effort to find a viable settlement, in accordance with int’l law.
— Nicos Anastasiades (@AnastasiadesCY) June 29, 2022
He noted, however, that such cooperation between the two alliances must be based on the autonomy of the two groups.
Anastasiades presented four points which must be prioritised: bolstering the EU’s defensive autonomy, zero tolerance for violations of international law and revisionist policies, resolving existing issues which complicate EU-Nato relations, and for all nations (present) to impose sanctions on Russia to ensure their effectiveness.
The president also reiterated the dangers stemming from food and energy insecurity and migration flows, among other hybrid threats.
According to the spokesman’s written statement to the media, the president again said that he is willing to resume negotiations on the Cyprus problem from the point at which they were cut-off, meaning the failed 2017 talks in Crans-Montana.
