President optimistic about positive outcome in economic aspect of Cyprob talks

President Nicos Anastasiades appeared optimistic on Tuesday about a positive conclusion in economic issues and matters relating to the EU in the ongoing negotiations to solve the Cyprus problem, despite a seeming slowdown in the pace of the UN-sponsored talks.

He said after his meeting with the Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci, that a constructive discussion took place on both issues.

“There is a wider understanding that there must be absolute convergences and towards this end we have given instructions to the Technical Committees dealing with this issue to proceed further with the discussion”, he said and noted: “There is wide understanding but we have to reach concrete results so that we convergences. I wouldn’t say that optimistic that we can agree”.

Replying to a question, President Anastasiades said that there are some issues on which there are convergences and some others in which differences still remain. “But I see an intention on both sides to make efforts to eliminate any divergences in order

get to I am not to reach convergences,” he said.

Asked if any indications from the IMF and the World Bank surveys on the cost of a solution were on the agenda, President Anastasiades said they were not, noting that there is no final assessment so far from these organisations. In their previous meeting last Friday they discussed the chapter of citizenship and fundamental freedoms.