Replying to Cypriot MEP Antigoni Papadopoulou on behalf of the Commission, Fule said that a “comprehensive settlement agreed between the leaders of the two communities constitutes the quickest and most direct way to solving the problems related to the Cyprus issue, including on the return of Varosha to its lawful owners”. The Commission, he further said, “welcomes the agreement of 11 February 2013 between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders on a joint declaration and on the resumption of fully-fledged negotiations on a comprehensive settlement with the aim to reach a settlement as soon as possible”. Regarding Turkey’s contribution to an overall solution of the Cyprus issue, Fule referred Papadopoulou to the 2013 Progress Report on Turkey.

Fule noted that as indicated in the statement of the European Union welcoming the joint declaration, the European Union supports, within this context, the efforts to reach an agreement between the two parties on a package of Confidence-Building Measures which can help to create momentum towards a settlement to the benefit of the Cypriot people. He reiterated the “European Union stands ready to look creatively at how to contribute to this objective in the prospects of a final settlement”.

Source: Famagusta Gazette