NICOSIA, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- France has said that it will support efforts to restart the Cyprus negotiations once the Republic of Cyprus decides to relaunch the process, a statement by the island's presidential office said on Monday.
"Progress must be made and France ... can play its role and get involved deeper if you ask us to do so," French President Emmanuel Macron reportedly told Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades during talks in Paris.
Anastasiades paid a one day working visit in Paris for talks with Macron which centered on the Cyprus issue, bilateral relations and military cooperation, the future of Europe and Euro-Turkish relations, according to the statement.
The latest round of negotiations to end the partition of Cyprus collapsed in July at the Swiss mountain resort of Crans Montana despite efforts by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to reconcile the two sides on security issues.
Macron said there were strong defense ties between Cyprus and France, noting that French navy vessels paid more than 40 visits to Cyprus.
He added that once a military base on the south shores of Cyprus is upgraded, this cooperation will be extended, the statement said.
Macron also said the French government supports the presence in Cyprus of Total Energy Company, which said it has scheduled to soon start natural gas exploration in Cyprus's offshore exclusive economic.
Anastasiades thanked Macron for the support by France on the Cyprus issue as a permanent member of the UN Security Council and promised that steps will be taken to widen defense cooperation between the two countries.
French ships and planes make use of both naval and air facilities in Cyprus in operations in the Middle East.
