FM Kotzias: The prospect for a solution to the Cyprus issue is still open

Turkey's intransigent stance on the Turkish troops' stay on the island and its rigid insistence on maintaining the intervention rights and guarantees for at least 15 years until their re-examination was one of the main reasons that led the negotiations to a dead end.

During the day, it was apparent that a meeting of the Prime Ministers of Greece, Turkey and the United Kingdom could take place in New York next week provided that Turkey gave a commitment to accept the abolishment of its intervention rights and guarantees.

However, there was no agreement on the withdrawal of the occupational troops, the territorial readjustments, but also on Turkey's claim that Turkish citizens should have equal treatment in Cyprus with Greek nationals who are EU citizens.