The representatives of the five permanent members of the Security Council were briefed on Wednesday by President Nicos Anastasiades on the latest developments on the Cyprus issue.
Participating at a lunch, hosted by the President, were the permanent representatives of Russia, China and France, ambassadors Vitaly Churkin, Liu Jieyi and Francois Delattre, and acting permanent representatives of Britain and the US, Peter Wilson and Michele Sison respectively.
On the Cyprus part, also participating were Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides, Government Spokesman Nicos Christodoulides, Permanent Representative Nicos Emiliou and Ambassador Andreas Mavroyiannis, who the President presented as Cyprus` candidate for the presidency of the next UN General Assembly and other officials.
Government Spokesman Christodoulides told reporters that the President informed the five permanent members of the Security Council on developments in Cyprus and what has been discussed so far in the dialogue, including issues where convergences have been achieved.
The Spokesman said the dialogue is now touching on difficult issues and the President informed the five over the decision of the leaders in Cyprus to intensify the dialogue.
Christodoulides said President Anastasiades thanked the permanent members for their interest on Cyprus and urged them to move towards Turkey`s attention which needs to prove in action what it publicly declares that it wants a solution to the Cyprus issue.
The President, said diplomatic sources, made special references to security, the property and territorial issues.
The discussion is said to have taken place in a very good atmosphere, and the ambassadors described the meeting, that has been held annually in the past 20 years, as very useful.
The unity by the five permanent members and the Security Council was pointed out in supporting the UN Secretary-General`s good offices mission and effort to support the Cyprus issue.
The five ambassadors asked the President a number of questions, including what role does the EU play in the whole procedure. They also asked whether the Turkish provocations in Cyprus` EEZ, which were the reason for the suspension of the peace talks on the island, have stopped.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37% of its territory. UN-backed talks between the Greek Cypriot and the Turkish Cypriot communities began last May with a view to reunite the island under a federal roof.
CNA/AZ/EC/GCH 2015
ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY