Swiss FM to convey message to Turkey

Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides and his Swiss counterpart Ignazio Cassis who is visiting Cyprus discussed on Tuesday the latest developments on the Cyprus issue and the Turkish provocations in Cyprus' EEZ.

Christodoulides said ''I have asked Ignazio to convey the message to Turkey that it is only through dialogue that a solution can be reached on the basis of the relevant UN resolutions and the principles upon which the EU is based. We are ready to engage in such a dialogue, given that unlawful actions within the EEZ of Cyprus will end". 

The Swiss FM, referring to the Cyprus issue, pointed out that his country had the honor of hosting five rounds of negotiations in 2016 and in 2017 in Mont Peleran, Geneva and Crans Montana.

Cassis noted that "we were not far from a solution but we did not arrive to it", he pointed out "it is very important for Switzerland to reiterate our offer to support this process with our good offices", and stressed the need for the resumption of talks and creating the nesseccary conditions for trust between the two sides.

"I will certainly talk to our colleague in Turkey to try and persuade him to find the best way to re-launch these talks," he said.