Nicosia, Cyprus. Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman said on Friday that United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ forthcoming visit to Cyprus would provide an opportunity for the island’s two sides to better understand each other.
Erhurman said he welcomed the visit and reiterated the Turkish Cypriot side’s support for Guterres’ efforts.
First visit in 16 years
Erhurman said the trip would be the first visit to the island by a UN secretary-general in 16 years involving meetings with both the Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot leaders.
He said the Turkish Cypriot side had stressed since taking office the importance of addressing a range of issues in Nicosia and considered it appropriate for discussions to be planned at the highest level with the secretary-general’s participation.
Issues for discussion
Erhurman said confidence-building measures and ideas raised by Guterres after the most recent substantive negotiations at Crans-Montana, including the secretary-general’s view that “this time it must be different”, would be assessed during the meetings.
He said the meetings would be significant in helping both sides understand each other better, allowing the United Nations to understand and note their positions, and determining the direction of future efforts.
Speaking for the Turkish Cypriot side, Erhurman said it would continue to support and contribute to the secretary-general’s efforts with sincerity and seriousness.
Visit schedule
Guterres is due to arrive in Cyprus on the evening of July 27. On July 28, he will meet President Nikos Christodoulides and Erhurman at their official residences, visit the Committee on Missing Persons and attend an evening meal with both leaders.
He is scheduled to hold a trilateral meeting with Christodoulides and Erhurman on July 29.
