Papadopoulos says confidence-building measures are not a condition for enlarged Cyprus meeting

Nicosia, Cyprus. Diko leader Nicholas Papadopoulos said on Wednesday that implementing confidence-building measures between Cyprus’ two sides should not be a condition for holding an enlarged meeting on the Cyprus problem. He spoke after a National Council meeting.

Call for an international conference

Papadopoulos said the Greek Cypriot side did not regard confidence-building measures as a prerequisite for an international conference and that UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres had not expressed that position during his visit to Cyprus.

He said the Cyprus issue concerned not only the two leaders and communities, but also Turkey, security, the future of the “occupying army” and the return of territory. “Of course, the occupying power cannot be absent,” he said.

Negotiations and Turkey

Papadopoulos said Turkey continued to insist on changing the basis of negotiations to a two-state solution, which Greek Cypriots could not accept “under any circumstances”. He said his side should nevertheless continue to act constructively and submit proposals that expose the other side’s position.

He said pressure on Turkey through its relations with the European Union, with EU support, was the only path towards resuming negotiations.

UN position on preparations

During his visit to Cyprus in July, Guterres said he would convene an enlarged meeting only “after adequate preparations on confidence building, methodology and substance”. He also called for renewed efforts to define and implement measures that would make a difference in the daily lives of all Cypriots.

In August, UN envoy Maria Angela Holguin described the implementation of confidence-building measures as an “indispensable condition” ahead of an enlarged meeting involving the island’s two sides, the three guarantor powers—Greece, Turkey and the United Kingdom—and the UN.