The governments of Cyprus and Greece are rushing to respond to the Turkish methods in the Cyprus issue with decisions that touch on the essence of the problem. According to our information, Nikos Anastasiadis and Kyriakos Mitsotakis during their talks in Nicosia yesterday drew two red lines regarding the form of the solution of the problem and the starting point.
First , Nicosia and Athens agree that they will not enter into any discussion regarding the form of the solution to the Cyprus problem, ie there is no intention to discuss directly or indirectly the form of solution promoted by the Turkish side. It is clear to the Cypriot and Greek governments that the compromise reached in the Cyprus issue is the solution of a bi-zonal bi-communal federation and beyond that they do not enter into any other discussion.
Secondly , Cyprus and Greece want there to be a clear starting point for the new effort on the Cyprus issue, to clarify the point where there was an interruption. That is, to show what was the work that had been done in the Cyprus issue until then.
Nicosia and Athens want to put more emphasis on the substance of the Cyprus issue as indications are that the Turkish side will be able to lead the informal five-party summit close to the March European Council. According to our information, the indications (and without being taken for granted) are that the informal 5 + 1 meeting that will be convened by the UN Secretary General will be in the second 15 days of March.
If the information is confirmed, it means that Cyprus and Euro-Turkish will move at the same time. The position of Nicosia and Athens is that a positive agenda can exist in terms of Euro-Turkish only if Ankara shows in practice what it is living in public. Anastasiadis and Mitsotakis want to see specific moves by Turkey during the forthcoming talks on the Cyprus issue and in Greek-Turkish.
Next week, Josep Borrell will be in Cyprus to discuss both developments in the Cyprus issue and Euro-Turkish issues. The Cyprus issue will be discussed with both President Anastasiadis and Ersin Tatar. He will also discuss Turkey's challenges ahead of his report to the European Council on March 25-26.
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