UΝ Under-Secretary-General, Rosemary DiCarlo, is expected to hold meetings in Cyprus with President Nikos Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar on February 10, sources told CNA, while on Friday, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative in Cyprus is to have separate meetings with the two leaders.
According to information CNA obtained, it is expected that DiCarlo is to meet with the two leaders on February 10, but the UN official’s schedule will be officially announced by the international organisation.
DiCarlo is also expected to hold contacts with stakeholders for an informal meeting in a broader format, under the auspices of the UN Secretary-General, for the sides to discuss the way forward as regards the Cyprus issue.
Regarding a new meeting between the two leaders on the issue of crossing points, the date is expected to be finalised “soon”, the same sources said. The two leaders met last week under the auspices of the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative in Cyprus to discuss the opening of more crossing points but since no conclusions were reached, they agreed to meet again soon.
This meeting follows an agreement reached during an informal dinner of the two leaders, hosted by the UN Secretary-General in New York on October 15, 2024. During the dinner, the two leaders agreed to have an informal meeting in a broader format in the near future, under the auspices of the Secretary-General, to discuss the way forward. They also agreed to have a meeting in Cyprus to explore the possibility of opening new crossings.
Moreover, UNFICYP Spokesperson Aleem Siddique, confirmed to CNA on Wednesday that the Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Cyprus, Colin Stewart, will meet on Thursday morning with the negotiators of the two sides, Menelaos Menelaou and Gunes Onar.
Stewart will also have separate meetings with the two leaders on Friday – at 15.30 with President Christodoulides and at 16.30 with Tatar, according to Siddique.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively.
Also read: UN awaiting response by Turkish Cypriot side on negotiators’ meeting
Source: CNA
