CYPRUS: NATO not ruled out of post-solution security umbrella

President Nicos Anastasiades has not ruled out NATO replacing the security guarantees that are a stumbling block in stalled Cyprus reunification talks.

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When asked by journalists if there were any thoughts to have NATO instead of guarantor powers to monitor a Cyprus peace deal Anastasiades replied: “We need to have the conditions first for the resumption of talks…there is the UN, there is the EU, there are many ways that can safeguard the Republic of Cyprus.”

Asked if the NATO option was excluded from the discussion, the President said, “nothing is ruled out of the discussion”.

He was speaking on the margins of a reception, in Nicosia, to honour Cypriot sailor Pavlos Kontides, who was named recently World Sailor 2018.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended in failure.

According to the 1960 Treaty of Guarantee that gave Cyprus independence; Greece, Turkey and the UK are guarantor powers for the Republic of Cyprus’ sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Anastasiades wants to dismantle the guarantor power system for a new security framework in a reunited Cyprus – Turkey opposes this view.