Christodoulides ready to meet Holguin and Erhurman as early as Monday afternoon or Tuesday

Nicosia, Cyprus. President Nikos Christodoulides said he is prepared to take part in a joint meeting with the UN Secretary-General’s personal envoy Maria Angela Holguin and Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman on Monday afternoon or on Tuesday. He said this would happen if Holguin judges it necessary after her own meeting with Erhurman.

Awaiting replies to Greek Cypriot proposals

Christodoulides spoke to reporters in Nicosia on Monday as he arrived at the annual general meeting of the Association of Large Developments and the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Keve). He said the Greek Cypriot side was waiting for responses to the specific proposals it had put forward, as well as to the other matters discussed with Holguin.

Related: Christodoulides and Erhurman to Meet Tuesday Before UN Envoy Holguin Visits Cyprus

RelatedChristodoulides and Erhurman to Meet Tuesday Before UN Envoy Holguin Visits Cyprus

Readiness for joint or separate talks

The president said he had told Holguin he was willing to adjust his schedule on Monday or Tuesday for a meeting of the three. If she saw no need for a joint session, he added, he could meet her on her own. He expressed hope that her talks with the Turkish Cypriot leader would lead to developments that open the way to a joint meeting.

Expanded meeting before end of UN chief’s term

Christodoulides was asked whether conditions existed for an expanded meeting on the Cyprus problem before the current UN Secretary-General’s term ends, something Holguin had indicated might be possible. He described the aim as fully attainable and said:

“It is an entirely feasible goal. What is needed is political will.”

He said the Greek Cypriot side keeps submitting proposals and ideas on how to reach that outcome. In his view, these show its political will and its readiness to move to an expanded meeting, at which the resumption of negotiations would be announced.

Timing of the trilateral meeting

Asked why Holguin had left such a long gap between her bilateral meetings with the two leaders and the planned trilateral meeting, Christodoulides suggested that Erhurman’s absence later in the week may have affected the scheduling.