Left-wing Turkish Cypriot parties have described UN Secretary-General António Guterres' upcoming visit to Cyprus as a "strategic opportunity" to relaunch efforts to resolve the Cyprus issue.
According to Turkish Cypriot media, Communal Democracy Party (TDP) leader Zeki Çeler said Guterres' visit could mark the beginning of a new phase in the settlement process.
Çeler argued that the status quo is unsustainable, particularly for Turkish Cypriots, and said expanded-format meetings should focus on strategic issues capable of advancing a solution rather than solely on technical matters.
Meanwhile, the New Cyprus Party (YKP) called on Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots to take part in events supporting a federal Cyprus during Guterres' visit from 27 to 29 July.
The party noted that this will be the first visit to the island by a UN secretary-general since Ban Ki-moon's visit in 2010, arguing that Guterres' decision to travel to Cyprus personally gives the initiative added political significance.
In a statement, YKP said negotiations should resume from the point where they ended at Crans-Montana in 2017, on the basis of a bizonal, bicommunal federation with political equality, a single sovereignty and a single citizenship.
The party also called for the immediate implementation of previously agreed measures through a framework agreement, warning that otherwise the expected informal 5+1 meeting would produce "nothing more than a photograph."
Source: CNA.
