Nicosia, Cyprus. Former Disy leader Averof Neophytou requested a meeting with President Nikos Christodoulides to discuss the Cyprus problem and share conclusions from his recent contacts. He said the request comes as the United Nations’ initiative has entered what he described as a critical phase.
Request to brief the president
Neophytou said he asked for the meeting “to bring to his attention my conclusions from contacts regarding the Cyprus issue”. He said those who can contribute toward a solution based on the agreed framework have an obligation to do so “in a spirit of unity, sincerity, and commitment to the ultimate goal of a united homeland”.
Recent contacts in New York
Neophytou’s request comes a little over a week after he met Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman in New York, with Erhurman’s office saying they discussed “current issues and developments”.
The meeting followed Erhurman’s meeting with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, after which Erhurman said “our fundamental view was that solutions to confidence-building measures should be found in Nicosia, rather than through enlarged meetings”.
Earlier comments during Holguin visit
Neophytou’s most recent earlier intervention on the Cyprus problem was during UN envoy Maria Angela Holguin’s visit to the island last month, when he said Cyprus risks “being trapped” if progress on confidence-building measures between the two sides is not achieved.
In a social media post, he wrote that “the messages from the president’s meeting with Holguin are not encouraging,” adding that “if we do not move quickly and without hindrance, we risk being trapped again, with the future of the Cyprus issue now becoming extremely uncertain”.
What do you think is needed to achieve progress on confidence-building measures between Cyprus’ two sides?