Nicosia, Cyprus. Government spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis said on Tuesday that Cyprus hopes to see substantial progress towards resuming negotiations on the Cyprus problem before UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ term ends later this year.
He said, however, that the conditions for negotiations to restart in earnest have not yet been reached, following President Nikos Christodoulides’ meeting with Guterres.
Goal of renewed negotiations
Letymbiotis said Guterres has sought since March to create movement and momentum towards the resumption of substantive negotiations.
“We hope that the entire period until the end of Guterres’ term in office will not be needed for there to be substantial developments on the Cyprus issue, in other words, the resumption of negotiations,” he said.
He added that discussions had focused on how negotiations could resume, describing this as a shared objective and the UN secretary-general’s stated aim.
Political will required
Asked whether conditions could eventually allow for an enlarged meeting and the resumption of negotiations, Letymbiotis said all parties must demonstrate political will.
“The condition is for all parties to demonstrate political will,” he said.
He said Guterres’ decision to dedicate personal time and attach his prestige to a visit indicated that there may be prospects for progress.
Diplomatic activity
Letymbiotis noted that it is uncommon for a serving UN secretary-general to visit Cyprus, adding that no incumbent secretary-general had visited the island for more than 16 years.
“He certainly would not come simply to say that he has been here,” Letymbiotis said, adding that Guterres had adopted a constructive approach during his discussions with Christodoulides.
He said diplomatic actors, including the European Union, had been activated and that incentives available to the international community had been presented. He added that a decisive step forward would require political will from the other side.