Cyprus president to present talks plan to party leaders
With talks on reuniting the island apparently faltering, Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades will present his plan for a settlement to party leaders on Monday, according to Cypriot Government Spokesman Nikos Christodoulides.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday night, Christodoulides declined to comment on the current mood at United Nations-backed reunification talks between Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci, but said that the Cypriot president “feels the need” to first inform the National Council of party leaders today and then the people of Cyprus about his plan, which was presented to the Turkish Cypriot side last week.
“The president’s proposal could, if there is a positive response, lead to the desired result; so it is, if you will, the time of truth, if we really want a settlement to the Cyprus problem,” he said.
Christodoulides also said that Nicosia has been informed of the Turkish Cypriot reaction to the plan by UN Special Envoy Espen Barthe Eide but refused to elaborate further. “We will be patient until Monday,” he said.
