The Cyprus problem is set to receive renewed attention, as United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has a “very specific plan” for resuming talks aimed at finding a solution, according to Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides.
During a recent visit to the village of Emba in the Paphos district, Christodoulides shared that Guterres had communicated his intentions back in March. “He has a very specific plan, a specific design, and I share his approaches and views,” Christodoulides stated. He emphasised that this effort aims to transform Guterres’ reasoning into actionable steps that would lead to the convening of an enlarged meeting focused on restarting discussions.
UN envoy Maria Angela Holguin is scheduled to arrive in Cyprus to meet with both Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman. Christodoulides described the meeting as “very important,” indicating that it would build upon previous discussions, including those initiated during Guterres’ visit to Turkey and subsequent meetings in Brussels.
“This meeting is a continuation of many other meetings which have been taking place for a long time,” he added, highlighting the extensive dialogue that has preceded Holguin’s visit. The objective is to assess the current state of affairs and explore ways to expedite the process towards convening an enlarged meeting where the resumption of talks will be formally announced.
Sources have indicated that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has given his approval for the UN’s new initiative aimed at reviving formal negotiations on the Cyprus issue. Erdogan reportedly believes that the unresolved status of Cyprus has adversely affected Turkey over the years, particularly given its support for both the 2004 Annan plan referendum and the unsuccessful negotiations in 2017.
The Turkish government’s past support for these initiatives is seen as indicative of Erdogan’s “pragmatic and constructive stance” towards finding a viable solution, according to local sources. They suggest that this willingness to engage may pave the way for meaningful discussions.
Erhurman mentioned a month ago that a new initiative would commence in July, following the end of Cyprus’ six-month term as the holder of the Council of the European Union’s rotating presidency. However, the Greek Cypriot side contends that efforts to initiate such an approach are already in motion, with government spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis noting that Christodoulides publicly announced the initiative after his meeting with Guterres in March.
Holguin’s previous visit to Cyprus occurred in January, during which she held a tripartite meeting with both leaders. After that meeting, she stated that an enlarged meeting on the Cyprus problem could not take place until sufficient progress had been made on confidence-building measures between the two sides.
Speculation around the timing of the next enlarged meeting suggests it could occur as early as next month, marking a year since the last such gathering took place on July 16 and 17 of the previous year. However, current indications suggest that this timeline may be subject to change.
