UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is approaching the upcoming Geneva meetings on the Cyprus issue with optimism, hoping the 17-18 March talks will serve as a starting point for renewed momentum.
This positive outlook, however, appears to face challenges from the Turkish Cypriot side, which continues to insist on specific terms and discussions outside the framework of UN resolutions.
In his invitation, Guterres outlined expectations for the participating parties, indicating that after the three Geneva meetings, particularly the one on 18 March, he seeks concrete outcomes.
The Secretary-General noted that the purpose of the informal conference is to facilitate “substantive discussions on the future course of the Cyprus issue”.
“The United Nations remains committed to supporting Cyprus’s leaders in finding a mutually acceptable way forward,” Guterres stated in his communication. He added that the meetings would serve to “renew dialogue and signal the beginning of a more positive dynamic for the future.”
The meetings will proceed in three phases: a dinner on 17 March, followed by bilateral discussions and a plenary session of the five-party conference on 18 March.
President Nikos Christodoulides, in his first statements after receiving the UN Secretary-General’s letter, emphasised that Cyprus would not discuss anything beyond the agreed framework.
“We are preparing to achieve a positive outcome in Geneva,” he said. “Our goal is singular: to restart negotiations from where they were interrupted at Crans-Montana, based on the agreed framework. We will not discuss anything else”.
“From our perspective, we will do everything possible, always within the framework I mentioned,” Christodoulides underscored, adding: “We will not discuss any other form of solution or any actions or measures aimed at consolidating the occupation or building infrastructure for another form of Cyprus solution”.
In contrast, Ersin Tatar continues to position himself outside the framework established by the United Nations, potentially complicating efforts and pushing towards another impasse.
In recent statements reported by Kibris and PIO, he persisted in advocating for a two-state solution on the island.
Tatar claimed that if their sovereignty were recognised, they would acquire the status of a separate state, suggesting that “two states could live side by side under the umbrella of the European Union”.
Asserting that for a permanent, fair and viable agreement, the Turkish Cypriot “people” must take their place with their own identity and state, Tatar maintained that Turkey’s guarantees and the presence of Turkish military would continue to provide security.
President Christodoulides will travel to Geneva accompanied by political leaders as agreed during the last National Council meeting.
According to sources, political party leaders have been informed about the Geneva trip and have responded positively about attending the conference in Switzerland. ELAM remains the only party that will not participate in the delegation.
In contrast to their Greek Cypriot counterparts, Turkish Cypriot party leaders apparently will not be present in Geneva on 17-18 March.
Republican Turkish Party (CTP) president Tufan Erhurman stated that so far there has been no briefing of the political leadership in the occupied territories regarding whether they will accompany Ersin Tatar to Geneva.
He noted that in the past, parties were always invited and expressed hope this would be the case this time as well.
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