Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhürman is expected to attend today's trilateral meeting with a package of confidence-building measures (CBMs) that incorporates proposals previously put forward by both the United Nations and the Greek Cypriot side.
According to Yeni Düzen, the proposals are intended to serve as "bridging" measures between the two sides and include a number of new elements.
The newspaper highlights comments by María Ángela Holguín, the personal envoy of the UN Secretary-General, who warned that failure to achieve results could jeopardise the next stage of the process.
"If there is no outcome, I will write my report and leave, and the prospect of a 5+1 meeting will collapse," she was quoted as saying.
Broader package of measures
According to the report, the Turkish Cypriot side will not limit discussions to new crossing points and demining proposals already discussed publicly.
Instead, Erhürman's delegation is expected to present a wider package that takes into account requests made by both the United Nations and the Greek Cypriot leadership.
The proposals reportedly include compromise formulas aimed at overcoming longstanding disagreements, as well as new ideas that have not previously been placed on the table.
Yeni Düzen says the package covers issues that emerged during earlier contacts in New York and matters previously referenced in UN reports.
Focus on next phase of talks
According to the newspaper, the Turkish Cypriot side hopes the CBM package will create momentum on the ground, accelerate dialogue and open the way for a high-level 2+1 meeting involving António Guterres, followed by a broader 5+1 format meeting.
The objective, the report says, is to ensure that today's discussions go beyond crossing points and create a broader framework for moving the process into its next phase.
Holguín's warning
The newspaper also reported that Holguín stressed in recent interviews that progress depends on the willingness of the two leaders.
"The first step on the road to negotiations is confidence-building measures. Without them there will be no 5+1," she said.
She added that if no result emerges from today's meeting, she will submit a report to the UN Secretary-General stating that "absolutely nothing happened", bringing her mission to an end.
Measures under discussion
Issues currently on the table include:
- New crossing points at Mia Milia, Louroujina-Lympia, Pyroi-Athienou-Aglantzia and Kambos-Karavostasi
- Demining of approximately 70,000 square metres on both sides near Deryneia
According to Yeni Düzen, the Turkish Cypriot package could transform today's meeting from a discussion focused primarily on crossing points into a broader strategic effort to overcome the wider political stalemate under UN auspices.
Source: CNA
