Brussels, Belgium. President Nikos Christodoulides said developments on the Cyprus problem should be expected soon after meeting United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in Brussels. He described the discussion as substantive and productive.
Meeting with UN chief
Christodoulides said he and Guterres share a common goal focused on the substance of the Cyprus problem. He added that Guterres shares the view that substantive progress is needed before the end of his term, which expires at the end of this year.
Christodoulides said Guterres briefed him on discussions held during a recent trip to Turkey and on how he sees the next steps. Christodoulides also said it was important that Guterres was in Brussels.
EU contacts and role
Christodoulides said Guterres had met European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen before their meeting and was due later in the day to meet European Council President Antonio Costa. He said he and Guterres agree the European Union can help substantively in achieving progress and, by extension, in resolving the Cyprus problem.
Recent meeting in New York
Christodoulides’ meeting with Guterres took place around a month after Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman met the UN chief in New York. After that meeting, Erhurman said that regarding talks aimed at resolving the Cyprus problem, “this time it must be different”.
Erhurman said he told the secretary-general that meetings should not be held for their own sake but should aim at reaching a solution, especially in light of previous experiences and disappointments suffered by Turkish Cypriots. He said he also shared a four-point proposal based on Guterres’ frequently used phrase, “this time it must be different”.
What developments do you expect next in efforts to resolve the Cyprus problem?
