President Nikos Christodoulides said on Wednesday that Cyprus talks are, based on current developments, ready to resume from where they were suspended at Crans-Montana.
Speaking after a roughly one-hour meeting with Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhürman, Christodoulides said the next meeting could take place either next Wednesday or Friday, following a meeting between the negotiators.
He also said a joint meeting in New York could potentially take place between the two leaders, either with the UN Secretary-General or his Personal Envoy, or at negotiator level.
Progress but differences remain
Christodoulides described Wednesday’s meeting as short but substantive, saying discussions continued on three areas: methodology, substance and confidence-building measures.
“There is convergence on some issues,” he said, while noting that disagreements and different approaches remain on others.
The President said there was, for example, a shared understanding of the importance of existing convergences, while other issues still require further discussion.
He added that the recording of convergences is at a “very final stage” and could be completed within days, after which the UN will decide how to manage the document.
New York meeting remains possible
Christodoulides said there could potentially be a joint meeting in New York, either with UN Secretary-General António Guterres or his Personal Envoy, María Angela Holguín.
He clarified that Holguín would not travel to New York for a scheduled meeting with Guterres on Wednesday, but that the two were expected to speak by telephone instead.
Asked whether enough could be achieved before the leaders travel to New York, Christodoulides stressed that the process would build on previous meetings rather than start from scratch.
He said the issues under discussion are already clearly defined, with convergence on some matters and differences on others.
‘Ready to resume negotiations’
Asked whether he was satisfied with the methodology and substance discussed with Erhürman, Christodoulides said the issues were clear and that the conditions for restarting negotiations were being examined.
“In my personal view, because I cannot speak on behalf of anyone else, we are, based on the current situation, ready to resume negotiations from where they were interrupted at Crans-Montana,” he said.
Christodoulides added that the negotiating table would ultimately determine whether there was genuine political will to resolve the Cyprus problem.
Asked about Erhürman’s apparently different position, the President said he could not speak on behalf of the Turkish Cypriot leader and that Erhürman would present his own views if he deemed it necessary.
Next meeting expected next week
Christodoulides said the two sides had exchanged views on the timing of their next meeting, which is expected to take place either next Wednesday or Friday.
A meeting between the negotiators will precede it.
He also said the two leaders had discussed Erhürman’s recent social media post in which he said it would not be easy to “write history” on the Cyprus problem.
Christodoulides stressed that such statements would not affect his approach, saying he remained focused on resolving the Cyprus problem and reunifying the island.
“We have no alternative to resolving the Cyprus problem and reunifying our homeland,” he said.
Egyptian contingent expected at October parade
Asked about reports that an Egyptian contingent would participate in the military parade marking Cyprus Independence Day on 1 October, Christodoulides said consultations were underway between the National Guard and the Defence Ministries.
“Based on the information I have received, there will be a contingent from Egypt,” he said.
Also read: President: “I repeat, if there is political will, we can write history”
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