The preparatory work required for the resumption of Cyprus negotiations has advanced significantly, Greek Cypriot negotiator Menelaos Menelaou said, adding that the objective remains to convene an expanded meeting at which a decision can be taken to restart talks.
Speaking to CNA about the contacts in New York, Menelaou said the Greek Cypriot side had come away with a clear sense of the UN Secretary-General’s commitment and determination to exhaust every possibility until the final day of his term.
Expanded meeting remains the objective
Menelaou said the aim remains for the process to lead to an expanded meeting, where a decision could be taken on restarting negotiations.
He also referred to what he described as a “pattern of obstructing efforts to give a more accelerated pace to the steps that need to be taken”, in reference to the failure to hold a trilateral meeting in New York.
According to information obtained by CNA from government sources, President Nikos Christodoulides intends to convene a meeting of the National Council on Wednesday to brief members and discuss the latest developments on the Cyprus issue.
‘Significant steps’ in preparatory work
Menelaou said preparatory work is continuing and that “significant steps have been taken”, although further progress remains possible.
He identified what he described as the Turkish Cypriot side’s “delaying tactics” as one of the obstacles facing the process.
The objective, he said, is for developments to move forward “as soon as possible”, adding that progress “should already have been made a long time ago”.
“We believe the conditions are there. The determination of the Secretary-General is also there. The preparatory work that needs to be carried out has progressed to a very significant degree,” Menelaou said.
He stressed that the next step is crucial in order to place “a revitalised negotiating process back on track”.
According to Menelaou, this must be done while fully safeguarding the negotiating acquis reached up to the final day of the previous process, which ended at Crans-Montana in the summer of 2017.
Guterres approach covers all aspects
Referring to the UN Secretary-General’s approach to the Cyprus issue, Menelaou described it as “a comprehensive approach that includes all aspects”, as reflected in the six points presented during the Crans-Montana talks in 2017.
The six points, he said, are integral to a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus issue.
Such a settlement must naturally encompass all aspects and all chapters that together constitute the Cyprus problem, he added.
Efforts for trilateral continued until last moment
Asked why a trilateral meeting did not take place in New York, Menelaou said the Greek Cypriot side and the United Nations continued efforts until the last moment to make such a meeting possible.
The Greek Cypriot side had also indicated that it was prepared to extend its stay in New York to facilitate the meeting.
However, Menelaou said that effort “unfortunately also came up against this broader pattern that we are encountering from the Turkish side.”
He described this as “a pattern of obstructing efforts to give a more accelerated pace to the steps that need to be taken” towards restarting the negotiating process.
Source: CNA
