Christodoulides seeks meeting with Erhurman next week

Nicosia, Cyprus. President Nikos Christodoulides said on Tuesday that he would request a meeting with Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman next week. The proposed meeting follows a turbulent few weeks for the Cyprus problem since the leaders last met last month.

Request to continue discussions

“Today, I will ask the Turkish Cypriot leader to arrange a meeting for next week, and I hope for a positive response so that we can continue the discussion which began before our trip to New York, and which also builds upon the facts and discussions we held with the United Nations secretary-general,” Christodoulides said.

He stressed that “we are here to achieve progress”, adding that “there is political will and there are ideas regarding all three issues raised by the secretary-general … and we are here to move forward”.

Christodoulides said he had already asked negotiator Menelaos Menelaou to contact the Turkish Cypriot side and propose a meeting for next week.

Conditions for an enlarged meeting

The three issues are confidence-building measures, the meeting’s methodology and the substance of the talks.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said an enlarged meeting on the Cyprus problem would be convened only after “adequate progress” on those issues. Such a meeting would involve the island’s two sides, its three guarantor powers — Greece, Turkey and the United Kingdom — and the UN.

UN envoy warns of narrowing opportunity

Christodoulides’ request comes after the island’s two sides ended the UN General Assembly week last month further apart than they had started it.

The lack of progress prompted UN Cyprus problem envoy Maria Angela Holguin to warn that “it is clear that the favourable window of opportunity we had throughout last year and earlier this year is gradually closing”.

She also warned that “rising tensions in the Middle East and the eastern Mediterranean could have negative consequences for Cyprus” and that “the diplomatic space which is allowing for the revival of dialogue may not remain open for ever”.

Clarification on a possible tripartite meeting

Addressing her meetings with Christodoulides and Erhurman during that week, and conflicting statements about the prospect of a tripartite meeting between the two leaders and the UN in New York, Holguin stressed that “such a meeting was not planned beforehand”.

She said she had instead informed Erhurman that Christodoulides wished for such a meeting to take place. Erhurman had asked: “Is there a new proposal which would make such a meeting meaningful?”