Nicosia, Cyprus. Alma leader Odysseas Michaelides said on Monday that the Cyprus problem remains “on life support” following the day’s National Council meeting, while describing the United Nations secretary-general’s reference to convergences as positive.
UN reference and expectations
Michaelides said the Cyprus problem had not been “pulled off the plug” but had not emerged from intensive care either.
He said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ mention of convergences demonstrated both his knowledge of the Cyprus problem and his commitment to the powers derived from United Nations resolutions.
Michaelides said he was concerned about a “peak in expectations”, warning that if the effort does not produce results, the picture presented by the secretary-general could become more pessimistic.
He said the overall impression could be that there is no longer any prospect of managing the problem.
Call for pressure on Turkey
Michaelides said that since March last year, communiques had effectively been issued without reference to the agreed framework for a solution.
He said the focus should be on putting pressure on Turkey, including through Europe-Turkey relations, to return to the negotiating table on the basis of the agreed framework.
Crossing points
On crossing points, Michaelides said President Nikos Christodoulides was correct to link the opening of the Mia Milia crossing point with the Athienou crossing point, which he described as important for Athienou residents.
However, he said there could be scope for a different approach. He suggested that, if negotiations resumed on the basis of the agreed framework, the Greek Cypriot side could accept the opening of Mia Milia alone at the same time as the resumption of talks.
At last week’s tripartite meeting involving Guterres, Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman, the Greek Cypriot side proposed removing Louroujina, northwest of Larnaca, from a package of four crossing points agreed at last year’s enlarged meeting in New York.
