Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhürman met the UN Secretary-General's Personal Envoy on Cyprus, María Ángela Holguín Cuéllar, in New York on Thursday, two days before his scheduled meeting with UN Secretary-General António Guterres. The talks took place on the sidelines of the High-Level Week of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly.
Meeting at UN headquarters
According to a statement issued by the so-called "presidency" in the north, the meeting was held at UN headquarters and included an assessment of the current situation regarding the Cyprus problem.
The statement gave no further details on the content of the discussion or on any specific proposals that may have been put forward.
Intense diplomatic activity in New York
The meeting comes amid intense diplomatic activity in New York on the Cyprus problem, with Ms Holguín holding a series of contacts with the parties involved.
It followed her meeting with President of the Republic Nikos Christodoulides, after which the Personal Envoy said that the United Nations is continuing its efforts on the Cyprus problem.
Meeting with Guterres on 26 September
Attention now turns to Mr Erhürman's meeting with Mr Guterres, scheduled for 26 September in New York. The programme of the visit, including the meetings with Ms Holguín and Mr Guterres, had been announced earlier by the "presidency" in the north.
Conditions for a new enlarged meeting
Before travelling to the United States, Mr Erhürman said he wanted any new enlarged meeting on the Cyprus problemto take place only after adequate preparation and when there are prospects for a result.
He said discussions should focus, among other things, on confidence-building measures, methodology and issues of substance.
Further contacts and return to Cyprus
During his stay in New York, the Turkish Cypriot leader is expected to hold other bilateral contacts. According to the "presidency" statement, he is scheduled to return to Cyprus on 27 September.
