Nicosia, Cyprus. President Nikos Christodoulides said on Friday he expects the date of an enlarged meeting on the Cyprus problem to be announced “soon”, citing intensified efforts by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
Expected enlarged meeting and UN engagement
Christodoulides said the enlarged meeting would involve the island’s two sides, the three guarantor powers Greece, Turkey and the United Kingdom, and the United Nations. He said during a visit to a school that Guterres’ “effort is being strengthened even more” and that he expects a positive outcome that would include convening an enlarged meeting at which the resumption of talks would be announced.
He said he spoke with UN envoy Maria Angela Holguin on Thursday. Referring to his meeting with Guterres in Brussels in March, Christodoulides said Guterres conveyed that the effort began immediately and is being strengthened through meetings with all parties involved. He added that these meetings extend beyond contacts in Cyprus, saying Guterres is not only conversing with Greek Cypriots or Turkish Cypriots.
“You know very well where the key to the solution is and we will exchange views on this effort as well,” Christodoulides said.
Confidence-building measures and buffer zone tensions
On confidence-building measures between the two sides, Christodoulides said there are “some positive developments” ahead of his planned meeting with Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman on Friday evening.
Asked whether he will discuss recent reports of tension in the buffer zone with Erhurman, Christodoulides said he would. He said it is not only provocations in the buffer zone, adding that there are other challenges and negative developments that may be created by those seeking to foster a negative climate, which he said affects both the essence of the Cyprus problem and efforts to restart talks.
Consent needed and Turkish Cypriot reservations
The convening of an enlarged meeting will require the consent of the Turkish Cypriot side. Erhurman has previously expressed reservations about holding such a meeting before substantial progress is achieved in devising and executing confidence-building measures between the two sides. He has said that Christodoulides’ insistence constitutes an effort to circumvent the Turkish Cypriots.
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