Government Spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis said on Thursday that there is a positive reaction to a proposal by the President of Cyprus for a more active EU involvement, in a bid to lift the deadlock in the Cyprus issue, noting that the Greek Cypriot side is "already at the negotiating table" and called upon Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots to return and resume negotiations from the point they were left off. Responding to questions after the meeting of the Council of Ministers, the Spokesman said that the President of the Republic will not stop his effort, adding that the European partners recognize the benefits that can arise through the proposal of the President of the Republic. The Spokesman was invited to comment on recent statements the Turkish President made during his illegal visit to the Turkish-occupied areas of Cyprus, regarding the recognition of the sovereign equality of the Turkish Cypriots. He replied that from the first moment after assuming his duties, the President of the Republic has set as his top goal the lifting of the deadlock, "a prolonged impasse in which we find ourselves" and in this context he submitted "a very specific proposal ", which he presents in all his bilateral contacts and tete-a-tete meetings. "We see a response, the President of the Republic will not stop, we will not cease this effort, we believe that there is a prospect, that our European partners recognize the benefits that can arise through the proposal of the President of the Republic and we are the first to say that we are already at the negotiating table. We call on Turkey and our Turkish Cypriot compatriots to come to the negotiating table and start the negotiations from where they were left off, on the basis of the bizonal bicommunal federation" , he stressed. He also referred to President Christodoulides' speech before the European Parliament, earlier this week, in Strasbourg, and the positions of the MEPs as well as those of the Presidents of the largest political groups, saying that from that speech and those positions, everyone will have seen that the proposal of the President of the Republic for a more active and substantial involvement of the EU in the effort to lift the deadlock is recognized. "They see the prospect, they see how this proposal, this interconnection of the EU-Turkey relations with the lifting of the deadlock and the course of the negotiations can play a catalytic role in the efforts of the United Nations," he said. The Spokesman stressed that the President has repeatedly stated that the negotiations will always be conducted under the auspices of the United Nations. Asked if the Government will seek to include a relevant reference in the conclusions of the European Council, he noted that there are various ways or paths that can be followed towards this. He added that what is of essence at the moment and the focus of the President's meetings, is that this proposal receives the support of our European partners. "This is what we have to see and if the EU has proven anything, it is that where there is a will they can find the right ways and the right methods to implement this proposal," he stressed. Furthermore, he said that it is important now to present this proposal and referred to the meeting the President held on Wednesday with the Austrian Chancellor in which, "Austria's support for this proposal is clear". Invited to comment on reports about a telephone conversation of the President with the UN Secretary General, he said that when there is something that can be announced, it will be announced adding that there was no communication planned for yesterday. In addition, he said that more information will be given in the next days regarding the press conference of the President of the Republic on the occasion of the conclusion of 100 days in office. Asked about the criticism in the domestic front regarding the President's actions as regards the Cyprus issue, he said that there should not be ideological differences or political confrontations on the national issue. 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: Cyprus News Agency