Nicosia, Cyprus. Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis said the next enlarged meeting on the Cyprus problem will be held when conditions are ripe and once there is tangible progress on confidence-building measures. His remarks followed a meeting with United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
Greece links timing of talks to progress on confidence-building measures
Gerapetritis said that “when conditions are ripe and there is some tangible development on the issues we have before us today and which have to do with the confidence-building measures, then there will be a new meeting”.
He said the Cyprus issue is “very high on [Guterres’] agenda” and described it as “an issue which hurts international legitimacy”. He added that it is important to find a solution “for the benefit of Cyprus, but also for the benefit of international security”.
Greece, alongside fellow guarantor powers Turkey and the United Kingdom, would be party to an enlarged meeting on the Cyprus problem if it is convened, though no date has been set.
UN envoy says no new enlarged meeting for now
UN envoy in Cyprus Maria Angela Holguin said after a tripartite meeting with President Nikos Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman on Wednesday that “for the time being, there will be no new enlarged meeting”.
Holguin said that to arrange such a meeting, “we need results on the confidence-building measures”. She added that “I am waiting for something more”, and when asked whether Christodoulides and Erhurman had responded to her demand for more progress made on Tuesday, she said, “I think they might. Not yet.”
Reports say Guterres disturbed by lack of progress
Later on Wednesday, it was reported that Guterres had been “seriously disturbed” by the lack of progress on the Cyprus problem since the previous tripartite meeting last month.
According to the reports, Guterres “emphasised that the Cypriot leaders must urgently take steps to facilitate life between the two communities” through confidence-building measures.
What steps do you think would most effectively build confidence between the two communities?
