Cyprus National Council convenes on Monday

President Nicos Anastasiades will convene a meeting of the National Council, the top advisory body on the handling of the Cyprus problem, on Monday morning to brief parliamentary political parties on recent developments.

The president had an informal meeting with Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu on November 25 in an effort to make headway towards the resumption of UN-led peace talks. At the meeting, Eroglu reiterated his intransigent positions on a political settlement.

At the Council meeting, the president and political leaders are also expected to discuss the way forward on the basis of the goal for the resumption of negotiations.

President Anastasiades insists that before talks can begin a joint declaration should be issued to record the basic parameters of the solution on the basis of previous High Level Agreements and UN resolutions, which provide for a bizonal bicommunal federation with a single sovereignty, one citizenship and one international personality.

Eroglu refuses to see the validity of such a joint statement.

The joint declaration, the president points out, must not overlook Cyprus’ status as a full EU member with respect to the acquis communautaire and EU values and principles, which should in turn secure the rights of all citizens of Cyprus, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots.