Christodoulides cites behind-the-scenes contacts on Cyprus talks in New York

New York, United States. President Nikos Christodoulides said on Monday that behind-the-scenes meetings held alongside the United Nations General Assembly could create conditions for positive developments on the Cyprus problem this week.

He said such developments could include an announcement on the resumption of negotiations from where they ended at Crans-Montana in 2017, through an enlarged meeting.

Contacts outside public view

Christodoulides said numerous meetings had taken place since the delegation arrived in New York, describing them as behind-the-scenes contacts conducted out of the public eye.

He said the meetings were aimed at creating conditions for positive developments while all parties involved were present in New York.

“As we speak, many contacts are taking place,” he said, adding that they had not received publicity.

Prospect of an enlarged meeting

The President said positive developments could only mean an announcement on the resumption of talks, continuing from the point at which negotiations collapsed in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, in 2017.

He said the contacts demonstrated UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ personal interest in the matter and added that the government welcomed and supported his efforts.

Christodoulides said he believed the goal could be achieved if political will existed, adding that Guterres was pursuing the objective through concrete actions.

UN framework and outstanding differences

During his visit to Cyprus in July, Guterres said an enlarged meeting involving the island’s two sides, the three guarantor powers Greece, Turkey and the United Kingdom, and the UN would be convened after adequate progress had been made on confidence-building measures, the meeting’s methodology and the substance of talks.

Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman have met three times since Guterres’ visit. No concrete progress has been achieved, with the sides remaining in disagreement over political equality, crossing points and the methodology of the talks.