Anastasiades:  “Given that there is a will, then there is hope for a solution to the Cyprus problem in 2016”

Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Anastasiades said “If the negotiations gain speed, convergences increase and there is will, solution of the Cyprus problem may be possible”.

In his statement following the leaders meeting held yesterday, Anastasiades said that the meeting was very constructive and they decided to intensify the negotiations, to note the differences. Asked about his proposal to the UNSG Special Envoy Espen Barth Eide to put down on paper the convergences and mutual understandings achieved so far and the differences which remain, Anastasiades said that it has been agreed that there is no need to record the convergences in a column, but rather to register the divergences.

He said that the focus is on this issue in order to have a separate discussion on outstanding differences for a specific aspect of the Cyprus problem in each of the meetings to follow. This, he added, “will enable us to have a more creative and productive discussion, in order to indicate whether, at last, we can achieve a comprehensive solution as soon as possible.”