Greek Cypriot side to make every effort to resume talks, says House President

The Greek Cypriot side will continue to exert every effort for the resumption of negotiations from where they stopped in Crans Montana, House President Annita Demetriou said in her speech before the Irish Parliament Seanad Éireann on Tuesday.

In her address, she noted Cyprus is appealing to friendly countries and trusted partners in the EU, such as Ireland, to exert their influence so that Turkey will withdraw its actions from occupied Famagusta and return to the negotiating table.

Demetriou added that several rounds of talks all these years, under the aegis of the UN Secretary General, have failed, as Turkey has been escalating its intransigence and unlawful claims against the sovereignty and sovereign rights of the Republic of Cyprus, culminating in its insistence on a two state solution that goes against UN Security Council resolutions.

“We will never accept such inadmissible claims, which the EU and the entire international community have explicitly rejected, as this would be tantamount to the legitimisation of the Turkish invasion and occupation,” stressed the House President, adding that Turkish claims have also been manifested through escalating provocations aiming at the creation of new faits accomplis on the ground, the further militarisation of the occupied northern part of Cyprus, the tightened grip on Turkish Cypriots and the instrumentalization of irregular migrants.

“The Greek Cypriot side will continue to exert every effort for the resumption of negotiations from where they stopped in Crans Montana, in line with the UN framework and with the EU playing a more active role in the negotiation process, with the aim of reaching a just and viable settlement of the Cyprus problem, in accordance with international and European law and pertinent UN Resolutions and on the basis of a bizonal, bicommunal federation,” noted Demetriou.

She added that Cyprus needs all the support it can get in this direction, especially appealing to friendly countries and trusted EU partners, like Ireland, to exert their influence so that Turkey reverses its illegal actions in Famagusta and returns to the negotiating table, also for its own benefit and for the sake of peace and stability in the wider region.

Demetriou also thanked Ireland for its principled-stance and steadfast support and its unfailing commitment and strong advocacy for international legitimacy during its recent two-year term as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, as well as the country’s participation in UNFICYP since 1964.

The House President also reaffirmed Cyprus’ full alignment with Ireland as regards the Windsor Framework, vis-à-vis the avoidance of a hard border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland following Brexit, adding it is imperative that the provisions of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the EU and the UK, as well as the Ireland/Northern Ireland Protocol in the Withdrawal Agreement as amended recently, be duly respected by all sides in order to forge a true relationship of equal partnership between the EU and the UK.

Regarding the ongoing war in Ukraine, Demetriou said that Cyprus has fully aligned with EU sanctions despite the inevitable cost on its economy and kept its doors wide open for Ukrainian refugees granting them all due benefits, despite being the EU member-state with the largest number of asylum applicants per capita, adding that Cyprus expects that the same determination, which is rightfully exhibited by the international community towards Russia for Ukraine, will also prevail for Cyprus.

“Cyprus and Ireland share challenging historical legacies, but we are also united by our commitment to a better future. We thus have a responsibility towards our citizens, to create the future our people desire, demand and deserve. Our success will depend on our ability to use the wisdom gained from past experiences and work together to shape a better future for all.” concluded Demetriou.