Nicosia is entering a phase of renewed momentum on the Cyprus issue, with the Presidency officially confirming that President Nikos Christodoulides will meet Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhürman on Thursday, 20 November, at 9:30 a.m.
According to a written statement by Government Spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis, the meeting will take place at the residence of the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative (SRSG) within the United Nations buffer zone near the old Nicosia airport, a venue traditionally reserved for encounters of high symbolic significance.
Constructive intent from Nicosia
The Cypriot government stresses that President Christodoulides will attend “with a constructive spirit and genuine political will,” reiterating his commitment to resuming substantive negotiations from where they left off in Crans-Montana. The stated goal, Letymbiotis added, remains a comprehensive settlement based on the relevant UN Security Council (UNSC) resolutions and the principles and values of the European Union.
A crucial first encounter
Thursday’s meeting marks the first tête-à-tête between the two leaders since Tufan Erhürman’s election as head of the Turkish Cypriot community. The encounter is considered crucial in assessing intentions and tone ahead of what diplomats describe as a “critical consultation window”, one that could shape the upcoming phase of UN-led trilateral engagement.