Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I have had occasion to meet President Anastasiades on many occasions at the EU Council meetings. I know him well. Sometimes the seating arrangements are such that I sit beside him at some of these meetings. I have discussed the question of northern Cyprus with him on many occasions. He is well-acquainted with the situation here in so far as the Border is concerned. We discussed last week what is going to happen in terms of his negotiations with Turkey in respect of northern Cyprus and the kind of situation that will arise in terms of borders, cross-border activity, movement of people and so on. We had a bit of a discussion about that. Clearly, he has made good progress with his counterparts. They are hopeful that, after very many years, the situation in Cyprus could be regularised. However, it is too soon to confirm that.

As we are both members of the same political grouping within the European Parliament, I also have occasion to meet him in that regard. He is well aware of the assistance that Europe has been making available to Ireland in our peace process. I discussed that with him as well as the relevance and the value of European support for cross-border communities, particularly fragile communities that are, as the Deputy often points out, coming out of a conflict situation after many years and need to be able to continue in peace. My most recent conversation with him was in Áras an Uachtaráin when he called to see President Higgins and we had a brief discussion there about his hopes for the future discussions that he is having with the Turkish representatives on finally bringing the long-running divide of Cyprus to a conclusion. There are a number of similarities. He is interested in any progress that Ireland makes and we have an ongoing contact in that regard.

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