Government Spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis said substantive progress could be achieved at Tuesday’s meeting between President Nikos Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhürman, including on crossing points, provided there is genuine political will. He also confirmed that the Republic of Cyprus has formally received an invitation to COP31, the UN climate conference hosted by Turkey in Antalya.
Mr Letymbiotis was speaking to journalists on Monday after a session of the Youth Council of Ministers. He also spoke after a briefing by the President for Morphou Municipality and guests attending its anti-occupation march.
Expectations for Tuesday’s meeting
Mr Letymbiotis said he hoped for a substantive discussion with the Turkish Cypriot leader on President Christodoulides’ 19-point proposal. He said the discussion should also cover issues raised at previous enlarged meetings and with the UN Secretary-General.
“If there is genuine political will, substantive progress can be achieved, at least at the level of the two leaders, without ever overlooking the role played by Turkey,” he said.
Asked what he meant by substantive progress, he said: “It can be achieved on crossing points too.”
He said the government does not expect agreement to emerge from the meetings of the negotiators. “We expect progress to be achieved at the level of the leaders on the proposals submitted by the United Nations,” he said.
The President’s 19 proposals
Mr Letymbiotis said the President’s 19 proposals address all three pillars set by the UN Secretary-General. These are confidence-building measures, methodology and the substance of the Cyprus problem.
“If what we truly want is to make use of every minute remaining until the end of the current Secretary-General’s term, there must be an in-depth, specific discussion on these proposals too,” he said.
Asked whether there were indications that Mr Erhürman would respond to the proposal on Tuesday, he said: “I will not speak on behalf of Mr Erhürman, nor can I know what his intentions are. It is positive that this meeting will take place.”
He noted that when President Christodoulides presented the proposal, the Turkish Cypriot leader reserved his position until he had studied it. Mr Letymbiotis described this as entirely legitimate and reasonable.
“We want a substantive discussion tomorrow on these 19 proposals, which we believe can serve as the springboard to unlock the process and allow progress,” he said.
Asked what outcome would count as progress, Mr Letymbiotis said that when progress on the UN proposals stalls, the choice for anyone who truly wants progress is not to wait and watch. He said the right course was what President Christodoulides had done: submit proposals within the framework of UN Security Council resolutions. In his view, such proposals could give the other side, if the will exists, the flexibility to accept them and move to the next stage at a more positive pace.
The role of Turkey
Mr Letymbiotis said the role of Turkey should not be overlooked in any case. He noted that the Turkish President had once again repeated, from the podium of the UN General Assembly, his insistence on a two-state solution.
He added that the government is also awaiting the Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy, in order to hear the UN’s thinking on the next steps.
Asked about reports that the 19 proposals include the opening of Varosha and the reopening of Famagusta port under the EU, Mr Letymbiotis said he would neither confirm nor deny any reports. He expressed satisfaction that the entire political leadership had been briefed on the proposal and that it had not been leaked.
No deviation from UN resolutions
A journalist remarked that the public should know what the 19 proposals contain, since the President had said he was ready for new concessions. Mr Letymbiotis replied by recalling the President’s statement that there would be no deviation from UN Security Council resolutions or from the convergences achieved so far.
“This is something we uphold with religious devotion. It is our steady compass throughout this process,” he said.
He said concessions must be made by both sides in any negotiation, but there will be no concessions for the sake of concessions. On crossing points, he noted that the Greek Cypriot side had proposed a different route for the Athienou-Pyroi crossing point. He said the Greek Cypriot side accepted the UN Secretary-General’s alternative proposal so that progress could be achieved.
Document of convergences
On the UN’s record of convergences, Mr Letymbiotis said the government’s position is that it should be given to all parties at this stage. That way, the parties could comment on it and reach a common understanding of the convergences. He said this position has been conveyed to the UN Secretary-General and to his Personal Envoy, María Ángela Holguín, and could help efforts to resume negotiations.
A journalist noted that Ms Holguín had told the Turkish news agency ANKA the document would be handed over after negotiations begin. Mr Letymbiotis said that after the interview, the Greek Cypriot side reiterated its position that the document should be shared now.
“This was also the original arrangement, and it is self-evident that, to help the UN Secretary-General’s effort as much as possible to lead to the resumption of negotiations, this record of convergences must be given to the parties,” he said. He added that the Turkish Cypriot leader agrees, at least in his public statements, on preserving the convergences achieved.
He said the other side does not share this view, and the matter will be discussed with the UN. He did not rule out raising it with the Turkish Cypriot leader on Tuesday.
“When the progress we want is not there, the answer is not less dialogue. The answer is more dialogue and more initiatives,” he said. He stressed that the will of all parties to achieve substantive progress is a necessary precondition.
Mr Letymbiotis said he does not yet know the dates of Ms Holguín’s visit to Cyprus. She has announced that she will visit within October.
Invitation to COP31 in Antalya
Mr Letymbiotis confirmed that the Republic of Cyprus has received an invitation to COP31, the 31st UN climate conference, which Turkey is hosting in Antalya. He said the invitation followed diplomatic efforts made in coordination with European partners.
“It is known that there was an effort in the previous period for the Republic of Cyprus not to be invited to a conference that is international. The Republic of Cyprus is a member state of the UN and a full member state of the EU,” he said. He highlighted the stance of EU member states and European institutions on Cyprus’ participation.
He said the invitation, received a few days ago, is addressed to President Christodoulides, as in all such cases. He recalled that the President attended last year’s COP in Azerbaijan. Consultations will now take place before a decision is made on who will represent the Republic of Cyprus.
Asked whether the conference would be used for contacts on the Cyprus problem, given that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and other leaders will attend, he said the President makes use of every opportunity for contacts. He noted, however, that given when the invitation arrived, the programme has not yet been finalised.
Briefing of Morphou Municipality
Mr Letymbiotis said the President gave an extensive briefing on the latest developments in the Cyprus problem ahead of Tuesday’s meeting. He expressed appreciation for those who support Morphou Municipality’s struggle by taking part in its anti-occupation event.
He described as symbolic but significant the initiative some have taken to rename streets in their countries as “Morphou Municipality” street. “The Cyprus problem is not only a national issue. It is first and foremost a European issue that concerns all our European partners,” he said.
Vasiliko tenders
Asked about developments regarding the Vasiliko tenders, Mr Letymbiotis said the established procedures are continuing and the bids are being evaluated. Any development will be announced, he said.
