President Nikos Christodoulides arrived at Tuesday's meeting with Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhürman carrying a new alternative proposal on crossing points, while also pressing ahead with his proposal on the fenced area of Varosha and direct trade, and seeking agreement on a framework for the resumption of Cyprus settlement negotiations.
Speaking at the Presidential Palace before departing for the UN meeting venue near Nicosia airport, Christodoulides said he was focused on three specific objectives, all of which form part of the 19 proposals already submitted by the Greek Cypriot side.
He described as a positive development the acceptance of one of his earlier proposals, which led to Tuesday's joint meetings between the two leaders and members of the Technical Committees on Youth and Cultural Heritage, as well as representatives of the Civil Society Consultative Body.
Christodoulides noted that the consultative body had originally been proposed by the Greek Cypriot side, while the Technical Committee on Youth was first suggested by Rosemary DiCarlo during her visit to Cyprus in 2023.
According to the president, the Greek Cypriot side accepted the proposal immediately, but it took two years before it was also accepted by the Turkish Cypriot side.
Third or fourth alternative proposal on crossing points
The president's first objective is to reach agreement on new crossing points.
He revealed that he has submitted a new proposal which, in his assessment, represents the third or fourth alternative suggestion made by the Greek Cypriot side in an effort to break the deadlock.
Asked whether the proposal replaces earlier suggestions, including one involving Kokkina, Christodoulides declined to provide details, saying he preferred to wait for the Turkish Cypriot response.
He nevertheless recalled the compromise proposal put forward by UN Secretary-General António Guterres concerning the Pyroi-Athienou route and Mia Milia crossing.
According to the president, Guterres presented the proposal during a bilateral meeting in Cyprus and, as he understands it, also shared it with the Turkish Cypriot leadership.
Christodoulides said there had been an expectation that an announcement would be made during a subsequent dinner, with the UN chief describing the proposal as "a reasonable compromise".
The Greek Cypriot side accepted the proposal, he added, but the Turkish Cypriot side did not.
Continues to push Varosha and direct trade proposal
The second objective concerns the proposal involving the fenced area of Varosha and direct trade.
Christodoulides argued that the proposal would be mutually beneficial and could generate positive outcomes for both communities.
He also described it as a genuine test of the political will of the two sides to move forward with concrete steps on the Cyprus problem.
"I am clearly more positive towards bold confidence-building measures," he said, arguing that such initiatives could send a strong message to Cypriot society as a whole.
Methodology for restarting negotiations also on the table
The third issue the president intends to raise concerns the methodology for the next phase of Cyprus efforts.
He said the proposal had already been submitted to UN Secretary-General Guterres and to his personal envoy, María Ángela Holguín, during meetings in New York.
The proposal has also been shared with Erhürman and focuses on finding a way forward on both confidence-building measures and the broader effort to resume negotiations.
Christodoulides expressed hope that Tuesday's meeting would produce positive results ahead of Holguín's forthcoming visit to Cyprus.
Responding indirectly to criticism over the pace of progress, he stressed that the Greek Cypriot side continues to table specific proposals and alternatives aimed at creating momentum.
"We want developments and we prove it in practice," he said, adding that the effort extends beyond public statements and includes concrete proposals, actions and ideas.
The meeting between the two leaders is being held under UN auspices, with discussions focused on confidence-building measures and creating conditions for the resumption of negotiations on the Cyprus issue.
