President has specific EU political figures in mind to assist peace process

President Nikos Christodoulides said he will propose specific political figures from EU member states, some of whom he has already been in contact with, to the President of the European Council in regards to his proposal for increased EU involvement in the Cyprus settlement process.

Christodoulides was asked on Tuesday about his recent conversation with European Council President Charles Michel. He said Michel saw the prospect of increasing the EU’s involvement in efforts to resolve the issue in a positive light, though he stressed that it was not right to speak on the EU official’s behalf.

He said they agreed for him to travel to Brussels a day earlier before the European Council on 23 March, to discuss the issue and “more specifically our approach”. The President said he will also discuss this with the Presidents of the European Commission and European Parliament.

“There will be a specific discussion, we have some ideas,” said Christodoulides, adding that he had the chance to discuss them and give examples as to how the EU can help break the deadlock.

President Christodoulides said he knows the Cyprus problem well and “things are not easy, certainly they are difficult". However, he added, “we cannot stop trying or hide behind Turkish intransigence’.

Asked whether he will propose specific names to Michel, the President said: "Yes, I have specific names in mind, some of which I have discussed with him, and if I see the political will, I will refer to particular names."

Probed further, President Christodoulides said that these individuals come from EU member states, and that "they are political personalities from the European arena”.

Regarding the visit of the UN Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, Rosemary DiCarlo, the President of the Republic said that he looks forward to meeting with her, adding: "I consider it a positive that she is coming to Cyprus, especially before the European Council.”

He emphasised that "our efforts within the EU always take place within the framework of the UN, and I want to make this clear so that there is no doubt about this particular issue”.

(Source: CNA)