Nicosia, Cyprus. President Nikos Christodoulides said he expects Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman to face challenges from those seeking to create problems ahead of their meeting on Friday afternoon.
UN engagement and agenda
Christodoulides told journalists that United Nations envoy Maria Angela Holguin is “actively entering the game again” after he spoke with her on Thursday.
He said Holguin has been a key figure in the effort on behalf of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and had also met Guterres on the Cyprus issue. Christodoulides added that the effort is being further strengthened following Guterres’ meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Christodoulides’ meeting with Erdogan in March.
Asked how the UN’s effort would be strengthened, he said meetings are beginning with a specific substantive agenda, aiming to conclude with the convening of an enlarged meeting that would also include an announcement of the resumption of talks.
Revoked pilgrimage permission and other issues
Asked about Turkish Cypriot authorities revoking permission for a pilgrimage to the Armenian Sourp Magar monastery this weekend, Christodoulides said he would raise that matter and “some other issues.”
He said he sees a tendency by some to create obstacles to the effort, and that he expects Erhurman to face these problems and challenges to demonstrate readiness and that both sides are moving in the same direction.
What do you expect will be the main outcome of Friday’s meeting between Christodoulides and Erhurman?
