President Nikos Christodoulides briefed parliamentary party leaders on peace efforts yesterday, giving newcomers Fidias Panayiotou and Odysseas Michaelides their first taste of the National Council.
Former president Nicos Anastasiades did not attend the session, reportedly busy preparing for his press conference today, in response to corruption allegations detailed by the Anti-Corruption Authority last week.
The leaders of DISY, AKEL, ELAM, DIKO, ALMA-Citizens for Cyprus and Direct Democracy – representing the new composition of Parliament post-elections – heard about the latest developments – three months after the last National Council meeting in March.
‘Renewed momentum’
The President briefed party leaders on the “renewed momentum” in the Cyprus issue, with all political forces agreeing that a new dynamism was currently in play, said government spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis.
Contacts with the UN continue with the objective of holding an informal ‘5+1’ meeting which should “serve as the springboard for the resumption of negotiations, always within the agreed framework and from the point where the previous negotiating process was interrupted,” said Letymbiotis.
Safeguarding the achievements of past negotiations remained a top priority, he added.
One last shot
Politis understands that UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who started his term as UN chief with a failed effort to resolve the Cyprus problem in 2017, wants to give the Cyprus issue one last shot before leaving office in December.
According to informed sources, Guterres hopes to use the remaining time to get the sides to agree on a strategic document containing the main elements of a solution that can open the path towards a final settlement.
UN Personal Envoy María Ángela Holguín will return to the island next week after visiting Brussels, Athens and Ankara. Her job is to prepare the ground for the enlarged conference – possibly early August in Geneva – and to see what pieces of the puzzle can be set up in preparation to achieve significant progress after nine years of stasis.
It remains to be seen whether the UN can get the sides to a 5+1 with a closer understanding on the basic tenets of any new effort – including the definition and treatment of past convergences, the specific details of the end goal, and how to get there.
Parallel effort on EU-Turkey relations
Speaking to Politis Radio 107.6 & 97.6 yesterday, deputy government spokesperson Yiannis Antoniou said: “The aim is to link the Cyprus issue with Turkey’s objectives in relation to EU-Turkey relations and to create two parallel tracks. In other words, Ankara’s European ambitions should move in tandem with developments on the Cyprus issue.”
He cautioned against raising expectations, stressing conditions for a solution are not yet in place.
National Council supportive for now
Letymbiotis noted that all political forces in the National Council welcomed the UN initiative.
“These are critical moments, and what is required is unity. Unity does not necessarily mean agreement on all issues, but it does mean responsibility, coordination and a shared objective,” he said.
Asked if ELAM also backed the latest efforts, Letymbiotis said political parties may have differing approaches, but what matters is that positions are constructive and support the broader effort to assist the UN initiative.
DISY: leverage and unity
Speaking after the meeting, House President and DISY leader Annita Demetriou stressed the need for unity, realism and strategic use of shifting international dynamics. Her takeaway was that “new opportunities are taking shape, which must be utilised with seriousness and strategic planning, always in tandem with an assessment of broader developments not only in our region but also internationally.”
She noted that Turkey’s objectives regarding the EU create the potential for leverage that could encourage Ankara to drop the demand for a two-state solution.
Demetriou highlighted the importance of the EU appointing a new special envoy.
AKEL: past convergences imperative
AKEL leader Stefanos Stefanou stressed the need for clarity in the Greek Cypriot side’s positions, with the aim of reaching a strategic understanding soon that would pave the way towards a comprehensive settlement.
“We must continuously reiterate that we want negotiations to resume from the point where they were interrupted in 2017, safeguarding the convergences achieved and utilising the framework submitted by the Secretary-General at Crans-Montana.”
For now, the effort to move forward remains at the phase of “meetings and configurations”, he said.
Stefanou noted that in 2017, Guterres had tried to achieve a strategic understanding, that is, agreement on all key issues, adding that he wasn’t sure the UNSG will have sufficient time to complete a second attempt.
“What is certain, however, is that the Secretary-General wishes to leave something for his successor, so that whoever takes over can continue the effort that will lead us to such a solution.”
ELAM: clarity on preconditions
ELAM leader Christos Christou stressed the need to clearly define in advance the preconditions and objectives of the Republic of Cyprus in the event negotiations resume.
He reiterated the National Popular Front’s long-standing opposition to a bizonal bicommunal federation framework.
DIKO: supports push for 5+1
DIKO leader Nicholas Papadopoulos expressed support for the President’s initiatives to convene an enlarged meeting as soon as possible, highlighting the “very significant role” of the EU in pressing Turkey and providing incentives for the Turkish side to engage constructively in renewed talks.
He expressed hope that the 5+1 meeting would announce the resumption of negotiations on the agreed framework set out by UN resolutions.
Newcomers: ALMA and Direct Democracy
ALMA’s Odysseas Michaelides described the ongoing UN initiative as a positive development, seeing it as a “window of opportunity” ahead of Guterres’ own departure from office.
Former Youtuber Fidias Panayiotou said his Direct Democracy movement has yet to formulate a position on the Cyprus issue, adding: “When we see more movement, we will consult with our supporters and decide whether we are in favour of or against a bizonal bicommunal federation.”
