The Cyprus negotiation have entered a key phase, with the topic of guarantees being approached.
Greek Cypriot President told CyBC TV that “We are entering into a different phase of discussions on guarantees.”
Anastasiades emphasised his stance that an EU member state did not need security guarantees, since they were already provided for by the Treaty of Establishment.
President Mustafa Akinci had recently stated that the Turkish Cypriots demanded that Turkey’s security guarantees remained in place. Both the UK and Greece have said that they were willing to give up their guarantor status. However, Turkey has said it wants to remain a guarantor for the island.
President Anastasiades noted that a Cyprus settlement would be founded on the EU’s four fundamental freedoms – the free movement of persons (and citizenship), including free movement of workers; the free movement of services and freedom of establishment; the free movement of goods; and the free movement of capital.
Anastasiades made clear that, post settlement, the Buffer Zone which comprises around 2% of territory, currently under UN control and Famagusta, would come under Greek Cypriot control, adding he was referring to more than the fenced-off ‘ghost town’ of Varosha.
He emphasised that if Morphou/Guzelyurt was not on the table for discussion, there could be no solution. Recently Turkish President Erdogan had said that there should be no return of Guzelyurt.
Referring to the property issue, Anastasiades said the European Court had already ruled on the conditions. In the event of a settlement, the Greek Cypriot owner of a property in the North would have five options – full restoration, partial restoration, compensation, exchange, or given an alternative remedy.
Regarding the issue of a rotating presidency, as demanded by the Turkish Cypriots, after a settlement, Anastasiades confirmed this was currently on the table. In the past, the Anastasiades has said this is something he is opposed to.
Referring to Turkey’s demand for progress in its EU accession at the Brussels summit, Anastasiades said: “I asked the European leaders, if their country was under occupation, would they agree to open these chapters? They understood”.
Cyprus Weekly
