Discussions on matters of substance and methodology during the presence in Cyprus of the UN Personal Envoy, Maria Angela Holguín, as well as the results of the EU’s efforts on the Cyprus issue, will determine whether an expanded meeting under the United Nations Secretary-General takes place, President Nikos Christodoulides said.
The President was speaking after his one-to-one meeting with the Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman, held in the UN-protected area of Nicosia airport and lasting about an hour and a half. He described it as a “good meeting”, noting that most of the discussion focused on matters of substance and methodology.
He said there had been many questions and clarifications from both sides. The discussion will continue during Holguín’s presence in Cyprus. According to a UN announcement, she is expected to arrive on the island on 29 October. Several bilateral meetings have already been scheduled, and her visit will culminate in a joint meeting. Matters of substance and methodology are expected to dominate the discussions.
Dialogue on the 19 unpublished points
On confidence-building measures, Christodoulides referred to announcements in the UN statement concerning an initiative on environmental issues and the exchange of cultural heritage objects. He said he was awaiting answers from the Turkish Cypriot leader on some proposals he had submitted, as the latter had asked for more time and clarifications. The President said he had provided the clarifications and that the Turkish Cypriot leader had promised to respond at their next meeting.
Asked whether he was referring to the 19 proposals he had submitted, he answered yes. Some of the announcements, he said, relate to proposals by the Greek Cypriot side, while he is awaiting answers on some of the 19 proposals. Others have been rejected, but that does not mean they will not be put back on the table.
Regarding the opening of new crossing points, the President said he was awaiting an answer on a specific proposal. He had put forward two alternatives, one of which was rejected, while further clarifications were requested on the second during the meeting. The proposal is among the 19 points, and the Turkish Cypriot leader asked to respond at their next meeting after the clarifications had been provided.
Christodoulides declined to disclose which crossing points the proposals concerned. “There is a reason why I did not proceed with publishing the 19 points. At some point I will do so, so that the people of Cyprus will know. But because a dialogue is under way, I do not consider it right at this time. Substance matters much more to us than communication,” he said. He added that the proposal to open the Pyroi-Athienou crossing “is a basic prerequisite”, clarifying that it concerns some new proposals.
Environmental initiatives
On the 19 proposals, he said he was still awaiting answers on six or seven, while some had been rejected. That, he noted, did not mean that they were not being repeated and explained further. As an example, he cited the Technical Committee on Youth, which he described as a proposal from his side dating back to when he took office and when Ms Di Carlo came to Cyprus. It took two years to be accepted, he said. Some of the day’s announcements had been made a long time ago, he added, while the rejection of a proposal does not mean it cannot be brought back.
According to the President, the environmental initiatives are joint actions by the Technical Committee on the Environment and concern issues his side had proposed. Joint meetings will also be held with the Technical Committees on Youth and Cultural Heritage, as well as the Advisory Body of Civil Society.
On the exchange of cultural heritage objects, Christodoulides said this was a proposal that had been submitted and discussed at the previous meeting. The Turkish Cypriot leader had asked for more time and, according to the President, expressed a positive response today to the proposal to exchange cultural wealth between the two communities. The relevant lists will be exchanged so that the process can move forward.
Asked whether today’s meeting had brought the sides closer to the goal of an expanded meeting under the UN Secretary-General, the President said two factors would determine the outcome. The first is the discussion of matters of substance and methodology during Holguín’s presence in Cyprus, at both bilateral and trilateral level. The second is the results of the EU’s efforts. He noted that an important meeting was also expected to take place that day.
One more meeting before Holguin's arrival
Asked whether he meant a meeting between Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and European Council President António Costa, Christodoulides said he did not want to refer to it, since the EU had not made an announcement. He added that he expected to be briefed on its results during the day.
The President said he would meet Holguín “as many times as necessary” and that some meetings had already been scheduled. If daily meetings were needed, he said, they would be his priority. He also said he was ready to take part in a joint meeting earlier if Holguín considered it necessary.
Asked whether he would ask the envoy for the convergences to be handed over before negotiations begin, the President said he preferred to discuss it with her first and then inform the public. He reiterated that his side’s position on the convergences was known and said he would state his position after discussing the matter with Ms Holguín.
Before the UN Personal Envoy’s arrival in Cyprus, another one-to-one meeting with the Turkish Cypriot leader will take place, probably next Tuesday.
Source: CNA
