Nicosia, Cyprus. President Nikos Christodoulides said on Friday that the coming days before UN envoy Maria Angela Holguin returns to Cyprus would be decisive for the Cyprus problem. He said he was optimistic that an expanded meeting could be announced to usher in the resumption of negotiations for a settlement.
Meeting with Holguin
Referring to his meeting earlier on Friday with Holguin, Christodoulides said they had a “very interesting discussion” and that the effort was ongoing.
He said Holguin would return to Cyprus after meetings in Turkey, Greece and Brussels.
Contacts in Brussels
Christodoulides said he had discussed the Cyprus problem on Thursday with European Council President Antonio Costa. He added that he would be in Brussels next week, where he would meet Costa again as well as European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
Goal of expanded meeting
“We are working towards one and only goal, the convening of an expanded meeting, during which the resumption of negotiations will be announced,” he said.
The president said he was not focusing on dates, but on the substance of the issue.
Turkey and the resumption of talks
Asked whether he was concerned about Turkey’s stance, which appeared to be escalating in recent days, Christodoulides said Holguin would discuss this in Turkey on Monday.
He reiterated that the aim was to resume talks from where they left off in Crans Montana.
Reference to March contacts
Christodoulides said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres had met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in March and that an effort was launched after that meeting.
“If this effort does not bear fruit, then someone is to blame. But I will not go there. Neither will I become involved in nor do I hope that a blame game will emerge. From what we are discussing, I am optimistic that we can reach the goal of an expanded conference, during which the resumption of talks can be announced,” he said.
