Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhürman has stressed that substantial preparation is needed in Nicosia before a new expanded 5+1 meeting on the Cyprus issue can take place.
In a Facebook post, Erhürman referred to comments made by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres before his departure from Cyprus, saying the Turkish Cypriot side is ready to move step by step towards a meaningful meeting based on the conditions set by the UN chief.
According to Erhürman, Guterres had said that he had secured the agreement of both sides and the guarantor powers for a move towards a 5+1 format meeting, provided that sufficient preparation takes place beforehand.
The preparation, he quoted Guterres as saying, concerns confidence-building measures, methodology and substantive issues.
“I do not want to hold another 5+1 meeting that will not produce results. I want a successful 5+1 meeting that will open the way towards a solution,” Guterres was quoted as saying.
Call for “homework” before talks
Commenting on the UN Secretary-General’s remarks, Erhürman said they were clear and required no further interpretation.
“If we want a 5+1 meeting, then there is clear homework that needs to be done in Nicosia,” he said.
The Turkish Cypriot leader reiterated that he had expressed his readiness, in the presence of Guterres, to meet with President Nikos Christodoulides once a week.
He added that the proposal had also been made public during the press conference following the trilateral meeting with Guterres and Christodoulides.
Criticism over lack of progress
Erhürman also criticised those on both sides of the island who, he claimed, say they support a solution while effectively believing that maintaining the current situation is an acceptable outcome.
He also criticised suggestions that the process should begin “from here or there” without focusing on achieving a meaningful result.
“There are those who either think we should not start at all, or that the process itself is what matters, without an outcome. All these people are speaking in vain,” he said.
Concluding his statement, Erhürman said the Turkish Cypriot side was moving “step by step” and that the obligations required were clear.
“We are ready, within the framework of our people’s will for a solution. We have clearly stated that we are ready. Everything else is empty talk,” he said.
Also read: “Next goal is to record areas of convergence ahead of 5+1 conference”
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