Erhurman to meet UN chief Guterres in New York as Cyprus talks prospect raised

New York, United States. Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman will travel to New York to meet United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, according to a statement from the north. The meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, February 11, and is expected to focus on the Cyprus issue and recent developments.

Planned talks at the United Nations

The meeting will be the first contact between Erhurman and Guterres since Erhurman assumed leadership of the Turkish Cypriot community about four months ago, according to comments by Government Spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis to CNA.

Letymbiotis said the meeting is viewed as a potential step toward the resumption of negotiations, in line with the Secretary-General’s stated intention. He said that engagement with the United Nations, particularly at the Secretary-General level, is considered positive and potentially constructive.

Greek Cypriot side cites readiness to resume negotiations

Letymbiotis said that, amid systematic efforts to create conditions for restarting the negotiation process, there is hope the meeting will serve as a catalyst for renewed talks.

He reiterated that the Greek Cypriot side’s readiness to resume negotiations from the point at which they were suspended has been repeatedly expressed by President Nikos Christodoulides, including during his most recent meeting with Erhurman, which was attended by the UN Secretary-General’s personal envoy.

Call for expanded meeting

Letymbiotis said convening an expanded meeting under the Secretary-General’s auspices remains crucial for achieving meaningful progress and reinforcing the overall effort.

What do you expect the Erhurman-Guterres meeting to mean for the prospects of resuming Cyprus negotiations?