The immediate objective of the United Nations is to create the conditions for an informal expanded conference that could lead to the resumption of Cyprus negotiations, Government Spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis said following President Nikos Christodoulides’ meeting with UN Secretary-General António Guterres.
Letymbiotis said Nicosia shares the secretary-general’s goal of restarting negotiations from the point at which they were suspended and welcomed what he described as Guterres’ strong personal and political commitment to the process.
Push for a return to negotiations
Letymbiotis described the meeting between Christodoulides and Guterres as substantive and candid, saying the Republic of Cyprus remains ready to contribute in every possible way so that the UN chief’s commitment can produce concrete developments.
Those developments, he said, should ultimately lead to the resumption of negotiations from where they broke off.
Nicosia will continue supporting the efforts of the secretary-general and his personal envoy, according to the spokesman. He added that the diplomatic activity recorded in recent months must intensify and develop into a substantive negotiating process.
“The objective remains the convening of an informal expanded conference, which will serve as the starting point for the path towards the resumption of negotiations,” Letymbiotis said.
The 2017 framework is not yet under discussion
Asked whether the meeting addressed the need to secure the negotiating framework developed in 2017, Letymbiotis said the process had not yet reached that stage.
He said the Cyprus problem had remained at a standstill since 2021 because of Turkey’s position, which, according to the government, falls outside the agreed framework for a settlement.
The priority at this stage is to establish the conditions required for negotiations to restart, rather than to discuss specific aspects of a future agreement.
Letymbiotis said the meeting focused on how the sides could move towards renewed negotiations, describing this as the common and publicly stated objective of both Guterres and the Republic of Cyprus.
Conference intended to deliver a substantive outcome
According to Letymbiotis, Guterres has developed ideas on the next steps based on his long involvement in the Cyprus problem, his diplomatic experience, his international contacts and the initiatives he has undertaken since March.
The secretary-general has nevertheless stressed that political will must be demonstrated not only by the two Cypriot communities, but also by the guarantor powers.
“We must all align ourselves with international legality,” Letymbiotis said, referring specifically to Turkey and the settlement framework set out in United Nations Security Council resolutions.
The government’s stated position is that any settlement must be based on a bizonal, bicommunal federation with political equality, while also complying with the European Union acquis, principles, values and legal order.
It must also safeguard the EU’s four fundamental freedoms, he said.
Letymbiotis said Guterres’ objective is to create the conditions for an expanded conference that would not simply be another informal gathering.
The intended outcome, he added, would be a substantive discussion followed by an announcement that formal negotiations were resuming.
“All the efforts, contacts and actions of the United Nations secretary-general, taking into account his terms of reference, are moving within precisely this framework,” he said.
Turkey’s position remains central
The spokesman said any expanded conference capable of producing a result would require the agreement of all the parties involved.
It would also require the abandonment of positions that fall outside the agreed settlement framework, he added.
Letymbiotis said the key factor remained Turkey’s genuine intention and willingness to realign itself with international legality.
He noted that the secretary-general had repeatedly underlined the importance of political will among all the parties and guarantor powers involved in the process.
Hope for progress before Guterres leaves office
Asked whether preparations were already being made for Guterres’ successor, given that his term is due to end within months, Letymbiotis said Nicosia hoped substantive developments would take place sooner.
“We hope that the entire period until the end of Mr Guterres’ term will not be required for substantive developments in the Cyprus problem, namely the resumption of negotiations,” he said.
Letymbiotis said Guterres’ objective since March had been to create diplomatic momentum capable of leading to renewed and substantive negotiations.
The UN chief’s forthcoming contacts form part of that effort, including a working dinner with Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhürman, followed by a joint meeting.
Guterres’ commitment remains unchanged
Asked what had changed since efforts were made two months earlier to identify possible dates for a five-party meeting, Letymbiotis said the secretary-general’s political will had not changed.
“What has not changed is his strong political will, his personal commitment and the political capital he is investing in this effort,” he said.
Letymbiotis reiterated that the objective was not simply to hold an expanded meeting, but to organise one that could result in the announcement of renewed negotiations.
That outcome would require the consent of all sides and a return to positions compatible with the agreed UN framework.
Positive indications but continued caution
Responding to questions about whether there were grounds for optimism, including following Guterres’ telephone conversation with the Turkish foreign minister before arriving in Cyprus, Letymbiotis highlighted the significance of the UN chief’s visit.
He said Guterres’ decision to visit Cyprus for the first time in his capacity as secretary-general, together with his personal involvement and political commitment, was a positive development.
At the same time, he said the government remained fully aware of the challenges arising from Turkey’s position in recent years.
Nicosia would continue to act constructively, while Christodoulides would maintain his contribution to the diplomatic activity surrounding the secretary-general’s initiative, he added.
Nicosia restates its settlement parameters
Asked about the Greek Cypriot side’s positions and the parameters presented to Guterres, Letymbiotis said they were already well known.
Nicosia supports a bizonal, bicommunal federation with political equality, as defined in Security Council resolutions, as well as the preservation of the body of work produced through previous negotiations.
The government also insists on one sovereignty, one international personality and one citizenship.
Any settlement must be fully compatible with the European acquis and guarantee the EU’s four fundamental freedoms, Letymbiotis said.
Asked whether Guterres had referred to preserving the results of the previous negotiating process, the spokesman said this was understood by all sides.
However, he reiterated that the discussion had not yet reached that stage, as Turkey must first return to the agreed framework.
Letymbiotis said Guterres had also briefed the president on aspects of his recent contacts concerning the Cyprus problem, although the spokesman said he could not disclose the substance of those discussions.
National Council could be briefed after the meetings
Asked whether the National Council would receive a further briefing, Letymbiotis said Christodoulides had already informed its members about his schedule and planned contacts.
Following the completion of those meetings, the president would provide further information wherever necessary, as he had consistently done throughout the previous period, the spokesman said.
