Christodoulides hopes Cyprus convergences document will support renewed talks

Nicosia, Cyprus. President Nikos Christodoulides said on Saturday he hoped a document setting out existing convergences on the Cyprus problem would be ready before UN envoy Maria Angela Holguin’s next visit. He said it could provide a basis for an expanded conference and the resumption of negotiations.

Document and negotiations

Asked whether the document would be ready by the time Holguin returns to Cyprus, Christodoulides said it would need to be presented to both sides and the guarantor powers.

“We hope that this document will be ready,” he said, adding that it could offer “a very good way for the talks to resume”.

He said that once agreement is reached, the negotiating acquis should be preserved and an expanded conference convened. During that conference, the resumption of negotiations on the basis of existing convergences could be announced.

“Once we agree on the convergences, we know very well where there are no convergences, where the divergences are, negotiations can restart from the divergences,” he said.

Meeting with Erhurman

Christodoulides said he was hopeful that progress could be made in the meantime, pointing to another meeting with Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman in the coming week.

“I believe there is, to a significant degree, a common understanding on substantive issues and on issues of methodology,” he said, adding that confidence-building measures had also been discussed.

UN General Assembly meetings

The president said he had been informed on Friday that the date and time for his bilateral meeting with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres during the UN General Assembly in New York had been set.

He said Guterres would also meet Erhurman following the official week of the General Assembly.

“We are ready on our side and I hope there will be the same political will, the same positive response from all parties involved,” Christodoulides said.