President Nikos Christodoulides has expressed hope that a new round of diplomatic contacts led by the United Nations Secretary-General's personal envoy, María Ángela Holguín, will pave the way for the resumption of substantive negotiations on the Cyprus issue.
Speaking to reporters on Sunday after attending a memorial service in the village of Emba, the President described his scheduled meeting with Holguín on Monday as "very important" and said it formed part of a broader diplomatic effort that has been under way for several months.
Push for a new conference
Christodoulides said the latest initiative could be traced back to UN Secretary-General António Guterres' visit to Turkey and his discussions with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, followed by meetings between the UN chief and the Cypriot President in Brussels in March.
"Ms Holguín is coming so that we can assess where we stand and how further momentum can be generated in order to achieve the goal of convening an expanded conference, during which the resumption of negotiations can be announced," he said.
The President said he was looking forward to the meeting and hoped it would produce tangible results.
Regional contacts seen as crucial
Holguín is expected to remain in Cyprus for a week before travelling to other countries involved in the process.
Without naming them directly, Christodoulides indicated that the envoy's regional contacts would be of particular importance.
"I hope that conditions will be created that will lead us to the resumption of substantive negotiations," he said.
The President stressed that the discussions taking place beyond Cyprus were "crucial" and could prove decisive in determining whether the current diplomatic effort succeeds.
Following the UNSG's plan
Christodoulides said Guterres had outlined a specific strategy during their meeting in March and that he shared the UN chief's approach.
"The effort currently under way is aimed at translating the Secretary-General's thinking into something concrete that will lead to the convening of an expanded conference and the resumption of substantive negotiations," he said.
The President reiterated that the objective remained a structured process capable of restarting formal talks after years of deadlock.
'We are ready'
Asked whether there were signs of flexibility from the Turkish side, Christodoulides said he could not speak on behalf of the other party.
However, he referred to the conversation between Guterres and Erdoğan, describing it as the development that prompted the UN Secretary-General to launch a new diplomatic initiative.
"It was the point that led the Secretary-General to begin a new effort," he said.
The President added that the Republic of Cyprus was fully prepared to engage in the process.
"We are ready from our side," he said, noting that members of the Greek Cypriot negotiating team had maintained extensive contacts in recent months.
Holguín is also due to meet Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar later on Monday before continuing her regional consultations.
Christodoulides said he hoped the discussions in Cyprus, together with the envoy's subsequent meetings abroad, would create the conditions necessary for a return to meaningful negotiations under UN auspices.
