Time to Focus on Cyprus Issue Substance, Says President Christodoulides

He pointed out that “this is the first time in a long time that we have seen the Secretary-General use this positive tone
It is time to focus on the substance of the Cyprus issue, said the President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, today in Paphos, expressing his readiness whenever the UN Secretary-General calls “to respond to the expanded conference, which, as already agreed, will be held with one and only one purpose: to resume the talks from where they left off in Crans-Montana.”
Invited to comment, on the sidelines of the Epiphany celebrations in Paphos, on the reports of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on his Good Offices and UNFICYP, President Christodoulides said that “I note the positive tone of the Secretary-General.”
He pointed out that “this is the first time in a long time that we have seen the Secretary-General use this positive tone,” adding further, “I take note of the point, the need to discuss the substance of the Cyprus issue because that is where we need to focus.”
Two and a half years with former Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar, said the President, “because of his positions, we could not move forward on the substance, we were discussing confidence-building measures.”
It is, he stressed, “time to focus on the substance, and we are ready whenever the Secretary-General convenes an expanded conference to respond”. As has already been agreed, the President added, “the conference will be held with one and only one purpose: to resume the talks from where they left off in Crans-Montana”.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively.
Source: CNA