The National Council, the top advisory body to the President of the Republic on the handling of the Cyprus issue, met this week in order to discuss a strategy aiming at the resumption of peace talks.
The Council, comprising parliamentary political parties, addressed the issue that has emerged from numerous applications by Greek Cypriots to the self-styled Immovable Properties Commission, set up in the island’s northern Turkish occupied areas.
The Government focuses its efforts on an agreement on the text of a joint declaration for the resumption of direct talks with the Turkish Cypriot side, while opposition parties express disagreement, asking for a change in this strategy.
UN Secretary General Special Advisor on Cyprus Alexander Downer arrives on the island tomorrow, in order to continue the efforts for an agreement between the Greek Cypriot and the Turkish Cypriot communities on a joint declaration
During his stay in Cyprus, Downer is expected to meet first the leadersof the two communities, Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu. He will then meet with the negotiators of the two sides, Andreas Mavroyiannis and Osman Ertug.
The UN envoy will stay in Cyprus for a few days and then he will depart for New York in order to brief the Secretary General and the Security Council. Downer will brief on January 22 the Security Council on the good offices mission in Cyprus.
President of the Republic Nicos Anastasiades will be in London from 14-17 January, where he is scheduled to meet British Prime Minister David Cameron.
Cyprus was divided in 1974 when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Previous UN led efforts to reunify the island under a federal roof have failed. A renewed effort began in September last year, with meetings between the two negotiators of the two sides as well as a meeting between the leaders of the two communities, with the aim to finalize a joint declaration that would pave the way for the resumption of talks.
Source: cna.org