Christodoulides says progress is possible on Cyprus problem after meeting UN envoy Holguin

Nicosia, Cyprus. President Nikos Christodoulides said on Friday that “progress is possible” on the Cyprus problem, after meeting UN envoy Maria Angela Holguin earlier that day. Holguin said she remains optimistic that an enlarged meeting can take place before the end of the year.

The president’s assessment

Christodoulides described the meeting as very good. He said it covered the 19 points that were submitted, as well as further ideas for creating positive developments that could allow talks to restart from where they broke off in the summer of 2017.

Related: Christodoulides pledges to work for progress on Cyprus problem after meeting Erhurman

RelatedChristodoulides pledges to work for progress on Cyprus problem after meeting Erhurman

He said he is “cautiously optimistic” about the next steps. He added that it would be highly useful to schedule more than one meeting with himself, Holguin and Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman during her current stay on the island.

According to the president, the next step is Holguin’s meeting with Erhurman on Monday, after which it will become clearer how to proceed. He reiterated that, given the discussion, his guarded optimism is well founded.

Asked about the convergences reached in earlier negotiations and the UN document recording them, he said he did not wish to reveal any substantive details. He described the present moment as a critical juncture and said he hopes the optimism will produce concrete, positive results.

Holguin on the convergences document

Holguin had earlier said the UN has examined several documents that could prove useful once the parties decide to resume formal negotiations. She stressed that the compilation will be presented only when negotiations begin and will not be made public beforehand.

She explained that the decision reflects the UN position that nothing should be introduced that might prompt further debate and lead to new setbacks.