Kotzias briefs UN envoy on positions for Cyprus talks
United Nations Special Adviser Espen Barth Eide on Monday returned to Cyprus, where President Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish-Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci are due to meet Wednesday, after being briefed about Greece’s positions on the reunification talks.
Eide met with Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias in Athens to hear the Greek government’s view ahead of the resumption of negotiations.
“We had a sincere discussion with Mr Eide, during which I raised the Greek government’s concerns and thoughts regarding the Cyprus issue,” said Kotzias after the meeting with the Norwegian diplomat.
“I think that, following this conversation, he is more familiar with and can better understand the details of the positions and views the Greek government is expressing.
“For my part, I insisted on the need for a definitive solution on the issue of guarantees and the withdrawal of foreign forces from the island of Cyprus.”
Eide expressed hope that Akinci’s election in the Turkish-occupied part of the island presented a “real opportunity” for a solution to be found.
Athens will be watching the course of talks closely and is particularly interested to see if crosstalks, in which Greece and Turkey will take part, will also resume. Sources said that it is likely Greek-Cypriot negotiators will soon meet with Turkish officials and Turkish-Cypriot envoys with Greek diplomats, perhaps as a prelude to a four-way meeting to discuss the Cyprus problem.
