Ending the stalemate in Cyprus

The agreement between the President of the Republic of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades and the Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu on a Joint Statement is opening the way for renewed negotiations and provides a solid basis for a constructive dialogue that can lead to a functional and viable resolution of the Cyprus problem as soon as possible. It also creates the conditions for ending, at last, the unacceptable status quo.

As President of the Socialist International, I express my full support to the two leaders in the effort to end the stalemate and build the foundations for a united European Cyprus.: a bi-zonal, bi-communal state, member of the European Union, with a single sovereignty, a single international legal personality and a single nationality.

The success of this effort depends, to a large extent, on utilizing the momentum of the current unprecedented international interest for a resolution of the Cyprus problem, as well as on building the necessary trust between the two communities. The Socialist International supports any initiative for Confidence Building Measures that could help constructively the negotiating process. To that end, the proposal for the reconstruction of Famagusta represents a real opportunity.

There is no doubt, that the resolution of the Cyprus problem will greatly contribute to increasing regional cooperation. Greece, Cyprus and Turkey could become a "triangle" of peace and development. The natural resources in the Eastern Mediterranean provide an opportunity for fruitful cooperation, not to be missed,

At the end of the day, the resolution of the Cyprus problem will not produce winners and losers. It will produce only winners.

George A. Papandreou