Cyprus President, Nicos Anastasiades, will inform the EU heads of state or government who will participate in the informal European Council meeting, on May 8 in Porto, about the results of the 5+1 informal meeting on Cyprus that took place on April 27-29 in Geneva, Government Spokesperson, Kyriacos Koushos has told CNA.

Koushos noted that even though the Council`s meeting is informal and the issue is not expected to be discussed, President Anastasiades will inform EU partners about the results of the Geneva informal meeting, asking for the continuation of the EU and its member states` support to efforts for a Cyprus settlement on the basis of UN resolutions and EU principles and values.

EU leaders will meet in Porto on 8 May to discuss social issues, including those related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The informal European Council will follow the high-level conference held by the Portuguese Presidency on 7 May.

UN Secretary – General, Antonio Guterres, said after the informal meeting in Geneva last week, that they failed to find enough common ground to allow for the resumption of formal negotiations in relation to the settlement of the Cyprus problem.

He noted that he will convene in the near future another meeting of the 5+1, the five plus the United Nations, again with the objective to move in the direction of reaching common ground to allow for formal negotiations to start.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results.

Source: Parikiaki.com