UN Secretary-General António Guterres, President Nikos Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhürman began a trilateral meeting on Wednesday morning at the UN-protected area of Nicosia's old airport, seen as significant for the next steps in efforts to resolve the Cyprus problem. The meeting began at 10am and follows Tuesday's separate talks between Guterres and each of the two leaders, along with an evening working dinner. Guterres is expected to hold a press conference with announcements on the future of the negotiations shortly after the meeting concludes, at around 11.45am.
Guterres said on Tuesday that the dangerous regional climate makes a solution to the Cyprus problem more urgent than ever, while making clear that the United Nations cannot impose peace and that only Cypriots can build it.
Christodoulides, for his part, expressed satisfaction with the secretary-general's political commitment, saying that Tuesday's discussions covered the substance of the Cyprus problem, the methodology for talks, points of convergence, the prospect of an expanded conference and confidence-building measures. He said he hoped Wednesday's continued contacts would lead to concrete announcements. Erhürman, speaking for the Turkish Cypriot community, stressed the need for a new and realistic methodology, with an agenda covering both the substance of the Cyprus problem and confidence-building measures.
Christodoulides on contacts with Turkey and Fitto's upcoming visit
Departing the presidential palace for the airport, Christodoulides said there is "certainly ongoing contact with Turkey," referring to recent visits by the UN secretary-general's personal envoy, María Ángela Holguín, to Ankara. He said he did not know whether Guterres himself had held any telephone contact with the Turkish side, but stressed that "Turkey is part of this effort." Christodoulides also announced that Raffaele Fitto, the European Commission's special representative for Cyprus, arrives on the island on Thursday evening, with a meeting between the two set for Friday morning. He reiterated that the Greek Cypriot side's goal is to secure positive announcements that would pave the way for negotiations to resume from the point where they broke off at Crans-Montana.
Scene at Nicosia airport
Guterres arrived at the venue shortly before 9.30am, ahead of Christodoulides and Erhürman. Journalists from Cyprus, Greece and Turkey, along with correspondents from international wire agencies, gathered from early morning at a designated press area near the Good Offices Mission facilities, where military tents belonging to the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP). Access proved difficult for some journalists, who according to reports were denied entry by UNFICYP personnel despite arriving before the designated gate closing time.
Reporting from Nicosia airport by politis.com.cy journalist Filippos Polo
