Brussels, 27/11/2013 (Agence Europe) - President of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades has the support of the European Commission both on economic issues and as regards the reunification of the island.
The Cypriots have kept strictly to a rigourous implementation of the measures negotiated with their creditors. European Commission President José Manuel Durão Barroso paid tribute to Nicosia's determination, stressing the importance of putting the fight against unemployment on the top of its priority list.
On the negotiations regarding the reunification of the island, which could be kicked off in the near future, Anastasiades spoke of a “new impetus” and called for greater EU involvement in the process. The Commission recognises the need for a joint statement with the Turkish Cypriot community, detailing the methodology and objectives of the negotiation process. “The Commission believes that an agreement on this kind of statement will facilitate progress in the negotiations”, said Barroso, the day after an inconclusive meeting between Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu. According to the Cypriot press, Eroglu does not see the need for a joint statement of this kind. (EL/transl.fl)