The President of the Republic will participate today and tomorrow in the Special Session of the European Council in Brussels.
During the meeting, the latest developments regarding the situation in Ukraine and the energy issue will be discussed, including the high prices hitting hard households and businesses across the European territory and the issues of the EU's dependence on fossil fuels; the dramatic impact of the war in Ukraine on global food security and the serious risks of destabilisation in many parts of the world due to rising prices; and finally, the EU's ambitions for a strong and coordinated European defence.
I would like to note that intensive negotiations are going on as we speak, at a technical level, with a view to reaching agreement on the sixth package of sanctions against Russia, which are aimed at increasing pressure to end the Russian aggression against Ukraine. Like all partners, we are participating constructively in the ongoing discussions, bearing in mind the guidelines governing the imposition of sanctions, namely that they should be sustainable and should have a much greater economic impact on Russia than on the EU Member States. We are optimistic that an agreement will eventually be possible, which will subsequently be ratified by the European Council.
I would also like to highlight the fact that during the Summit, President Anastasiades will bring before his European counterparts the new illegal actions of the Turkish side in the enclosed area of Varosha and, more generally, the unacceptable and provocative behaviour of Turkey, both towards Cyprus and Greece, as well as the revisionist positions that Turkey continues to put forward on the framework for a solution to the Cyprus problem.
The President will ask his counterparts to underline to Ankara the importance of ending the provocations and putting the Cyprus problem back on track for resolution, on the basis of what the Security Council resolutions on Cyprus provide for.
He will also inform them in person of the efforts our side is making to break the deadlock, including through the letter he sent last week to the Turkish Cypriot leader on Confidence Building Measures to assist the resumption of the negotiating process, bearing in mind that the perpetuation of the status quo is not in the interest of anyone, including the Turkish Cypriot community itself.
I would like to point out here that, with regard to the Cyprus issues, including the new illegal actions on the part of the occupying regime, but also the actions that our side is taking to break the deadlock, The President of the Republic refers at length to letters he sent 24 hours ago to the Turkish Cypriot leader, the UN Secretary-General, the leaders of the guarantor powers, all European leaders, the President of the European Council, the President of the European Commission and the President of the European Parliament.
(MF/NG/SX)
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