Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades highlighted that the prospects to resume talks on the Cyprus problem are being created. As he noted, the dialogue between the Greek-Cypriot side and the Turkish-Cypriot community must be free from threats and blackmail, while adding that the Republic of Cyprus is determined to intensify negotiations. Anastasiades said that the Greek-Cypriot side has “the will and the determination, and if Turkey and our Turkish-Cypriot compatriots respond in a similar manner, then I want to express my optimism that we can reach a solution.” Moreover, as he stressed, the Joint Declaration of February 11, 2014, “gave the opportunity to restart a productive dialogue, which despite the obstacles that occurred, had created the prospects to begin the third and final phase on October 9,” while noting that the developments that followed on October 6 forced the Greek-Cypriot side to suspend its participation in the talks. With the Turkish NAVTEX not renewed and the withdrawal of Barbaros “I am glad to say that the prospects to resume talks are being created,” the Cypriot President explained. It should be noted that in October 2014 Anastasiades suspended his participation in the peace talks following a Navigational Telex (NAVTEX) issued by Turkey for the conduction of hydrocarbons research in Cyprus’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) by seismic vessel “Barbaros,” escorted by a number of Turkish Navy ships. “We are determined to intensify the dialogue and with good will and determination to proceed with proposals that will take into account the concerns of the Greek-Cypriots and, most importantly, will not ignore the concerns of the Turkish-Cypriots. Our goal is not to find a solution that creates winners and losers,” he concluded. UN Secretary General’s Special Adviser on Cyprus Espen Barth Eide announced on April 7 that the peace talks are expected to resume within the weeks following the “elections” in the island’s occupied areas. The illegal elections took place on April 19 and a run-off will take place this coming Sunday.
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