Nicosia, Cyprus. The next enlarged meeting on the Cyprus problem is expected to take place in either July or August, United Nations envoy Maria Angela Holguin said on Monday after meeting Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman. She said preparations are under way for a five-plus-one meeting with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, though the exact date has not yet been set.
Holguin says preparations are under way
Holguin said she had held a “very productive” meeting with Erhurman, as well as with President Nikos Christodoulides earlier in the day.
“We are preparing a five-plus-one meeting with [UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres]. We do not know yet the exact date, but [it will take place] in the coming months,” she said.
She added that she was “quite positive and optimistic” and said efforts would continue toward holding the meeting in the hope of achieving good results.
No confirmation on resumption of negotiations
Asked whether the resumption of negotiations aimed at resolving the Cyprus problem would be announced at the enlarged meeting, Holguin said, “we do not know, we will see what happens at that meeting”.
“This would be very good news, but I prefer to wait,” she added.
Further meetings planned in Cyprus, Turkey and Greece
Holguin said she would meet both Erhurman and Christodoulides again over the weekend before travelling to Ankara to meet Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Monday. She is then due to travel to Athens for a meeting with Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis.
Christodoulides says dates have been discussed
Earlier on Monday, Christodoulides said dates for an enlarged meeting had been discussed, but said he could not make them public.
“I have been working on some dates, but it will be a long summer,” he said.
Report cites Erdogan’s backing for UN initiative
Holguin’s visit comes as sources informed the Cyprus Mail that Turkish President Tayyip Recep Erdogan has approved the “new initiative” being undertaken by the United Nations to help bring about a resumption of formal negotiations on the Cyprus problem.
According to the report, Erdogan believes the lack of a solution to the Cyprus problem has “unduly cost Turkey through no fault of its own” in recent decades.