President Nikos Christodoulides accused the Turkish side of undermining a new United Nations initiative on the Cyprus issue by escalating tensions in the buffer zone, while publicly backing renewed diplomatic efforts.
Speaking after a meeting at the presidential palace, Christodoulides described the latest contacts with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres as positive and said there was increased interest from the UN chief in efforts to restart negotiations.
He linked recent incidents along the buffer zone and visits to the north with developments in the Cyprus issue, saying some parties were trying to create problems because they were unsettled by the prospect of progress.
Christodoulides said Guterres was working to prepare the ground for an expanded conference during which the resumption of talks could be announced. He said the effort began after a meeting between Guterres and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara.
According to the president, the United Nations is already in contact with all parties in and outside Cyprus to explore the prospect of a new initiative and discuss substantive issues. He said the UN effort was focused on core issues rather than confidence-building measures.
No specific timetable has been set, although there is an informal target to hold an informal multilateral meeting during the summer. Christodoulides said the priority for the Greek Cypriot side was not the timing of the conference but whether it leads to the resumption of negotiations.
Earlier on Thursday, Christodoulides said he had spoken by phone with the UN secretary-general’s personal envoy, Maria Angela Holguin, for the first time in some time, adding that the UN initiative was gaining momentum.
Commenting on incidents in the buffer zone, the president said he had raised the issue during his meeting with Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman. He said the provocations were coming from a “very specific direction” — the Turkish occupation army.
Asked about recent developments, Christodoulides said there had been an increase in violations in the buffer zone, including challenges linked to religious services.
He also said the pre-election climate in the north appeared to be affecting efforts to restart negotiations, with campaigning already underway and influencing the political atmosphere around the Cyprus issue.
Christodoulides did not rule out the possibility that the political climate in the north could also affect efforts to organise an informal multilateral meeting in the summer. He said some parties clearly did not want positive developments or a conference that could lead to the resumption of talks.
The president and Erhurman also exchanged views on the substance of the Cyprus issue and future steps during Thursday’s meeting, according to a UN statement.
The United Nations said the two leaders met at the residence of the UN secretary-general’s special representative in Cyprus, Colin Stewart, and held a productive discussion in a positive atmosphere.
The two sides agreed on a framework for setting up an advisory body involving civil society participation.
They also agreed to prepare a plan for holding religious services across the island for an initial six-month period, which could be renewed.
The leaders further agreed to continue work on a coordinated response to foot-and-mouth disease and to establish a subcommittee under the Technical Committee on Economic and Commercial Matters to address issues related to protected geographical indications and designations of origin.
The two leaders also agreed to meet again in the near future.
