Minister of Foreign Affairs, Constantinos Kombos, said on Monday that his discussion with the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, duirng their meeting in New York, was particularly constructive, while stressing that Nicosia is “fully aligned” with the Secretary-General’s positive pace.
In his statements after the meeting, Kombos said that the discussion with the UN chief, at the international organisation’s headquarters, focused on ways to deepen the already existing cooperation in the humanitarian field in relation to issues concerning the region, as well as on the Cyprus issue.
“Our clear, immediate, and unwavering willingness for a swift return to substantive negotiations, always and exclusively within the framework of the Security Council, was reaffirmed to the Secretary-General. Additionally, in light of Di Carlo’s upcoming visit to Nicosia and the upcoming informal five-party meeting, we consider that a clear message had to be sent,” he added.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs stressed the need for clarity in the message that is being conveyed to the UN Secretary-General, and an exchange on the preparation that needs to be done.
“Regarding the preparation, we informed about the steps we are making, how we proceed, and stressed the necessity for all involved parties to conduct the necessary preparation in order to achieve a positive outcome. The message that must be reaffirmed to the Secretary-General is that we are fully aligned with his positive pace. This is our approach, and we will continue to adhere to it,” he added.
When asked whether the stagnant Greek-Turkish political dialogue affects developments in the Cyprus issue, Minister Kombos replied that “we agree with the Secretary-General that the positive atmosphere in Greek-Turkish relations is highly beneficial and will support the process. The Secretary-General operates on the assumption that this positive climate exists and moves forward accordingly. What we consider crucial is how the other side shapes its stance regarding the Cyprus negotiations. This is the primary point we want to highlight. Our position is absolutely clear and unambiguous. We communicated this to the Secretary-General, just days before DiCarlo’s visit to Cyprus and a few weeks before the informal five-party meeting. There can be no doubt about our willingness, nor about our work and preparation to ensure we are fully ready for this meeting. However, what we must highlight and stress is that our willingness and preparation depend entirely on us. This does not depend on third parties,” he noted.
Replying to another question regarding the contacts between the Cypriot government and the new US administration, Minister Kombos said that “the Republic of Cyprus relies on its relationship with the US, which has developed dynamically in recent months.”
“We will invest in this, continue to do so, and work methodically and systematically to achieve the best possible outcome for both sides. There are ongoing contacts with the new US administration. Relations between states do not cease because of changes in electoral results,” he said.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs also discussed current developments in the Middle East with the UN Secretary-General, focusing on Cyprus’ significant role in delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza, as well as the situation in Syria.
The UN Secretary-General thanked the Republic of Cyprus for its dynamic initiatives and its cooperation with UNOPS.
Minister Kombos was accompanied by the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Cyprus to the UN, Ambassador Maria Michail, along with diplomats from the Cyprus Mission and the director of his office, Dimitra Christodoulou.
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.
On October 15, 2024, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres hosted an informal dinner with Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar in New York, encouraging “the leaders to consider how to bridge the gap in their positions and rebuild trust to allow movement leading to a settlement.”
At the meeting, President Christodoulides and Tatar 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. A first such meeting was held on January 20, 2025.
Also read: UNSG welcomes leaders’ commitments, backs UNFICYP extension
Source: CNA
