President announces hopeful prospect of greater EU involvement in Cyprob

President Nikos Christodoulides said on Thursday that he had received a phone call regarding his initiative towards more active EU involvement in the Cyprus issue, saying that there seem to be prospects in this direction.

“I would like to share…[regarding] the initiative that I have undertaken for greater leadership by the EU…within the framework and under the auspices of the UN for the resumption of talks, [that] I received a phone call [suggesting] prospects [exist] in this direction and we will pursue these to the end, so that talks can finally resume,” the president announced in his opening remarks during a Limassol event.

Christodoulides stressed that all must realise the status quo cannot constitute a solution and that this status quo is getting worse by the day. If reunification is not achieved, the country will certainly face very serious challenges, the president said.

Christodoulides noted that despite problems, difficulties, and set backs, “we are working tirelessly to break the deadlock and restart the talks to reach a mutually beneficial solution on the basis of the agreed upon framework, of a bi-zonal, bicommunal federation, with political equality as provided for by UN resolutions.”

The president said the government was working sincerely towards resuming negotiations from where they left off in Crans Montana, and declared readiness to work for a solution of the Cyprus problem, the return of Famagusta to its legitimate inhabitants, and the reunification of Cyprus and its people.