UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has proposed expanding informal talks on the Cyprus issue to include guarantor powers.
The proposal was discussed during the informal dinner in New York on Tuesday evening with President Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar.
The expanded dialogue would likely be held under UN auspices, but without the appointment of Maria Angela Holguin. Instead, a UN official may be tasked with these duties.
This two-pronged approach aims to gradually pave the way for resuming negotiations by fostering dialogue and building trust between communities.
Whilst the Turkish Cypriot side favours expanded contacts without the UK, involving only the two sides, Greece and Turkey, the direction appears to include London.
The UN chief is expected to discuss next steps with the British, as he has done with Greece and Turkey. Sources indicate that Greece and the UK do not accept any format other than the five-party talks.
Ersin Tatar reportedly disagreed with the appointment of Maria Angela Holguin, believing she did not deliver on Turkish Cypriot demands for “direct” trade, flights, and contacts.
This may lead the UN Secretary-General to assign the task of coordinating these expanded contacts to another person, possibly Assistant Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo.
The Greek Cypriot side reiterated its non-negotiable elements, including single sovereignty, single personality, and single citizenship, as well as safeguarding the Republic of Cyprus and state functionality, crucial for an EU member state.
Discussions also touched on confidence-building measures, focusing on potentially opening new checkpoints.
Tatar requested the opening of the Mia Milia checkpoint, while Christodoulides suggested coupling this with opening a checkpoint either in Pyroi or Kokkina.
President Christodoulides also proposed establishing a Truth Commission, which Tatar rejected, stating it should not precede a comprehensive settlement.
A suggestion to form a technical committee on youth issues was similarly dismissed by Tatar.
Sources said Tatar raised concerns about prosecutions related to Greek Cypriot property usurping in the north, requesting Christodoulides’s intervention.
Guterres urged the leaders to engage in open discussions with “out of the box” ideas, avoiding confrontations based on previous statements.
He acknowledged the differing starting points, with one leader emphasising sovereign equality and the other UN resolutions, but expressed hope for finding common ground.
The UN chief stressed the importance of implementing confidence-building measures to improve inter-communal relations and citizens’ lives.
Christodoulides highlighted his administration’s efforts towards a solution, including agreeing to various UN appointments and initiatives to improve EU-Turkey relations.
Tatar reiterated calls for sovereign equality and referenced Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s recent UN General Assembly speech advocating for a two-state solution.
(information from CNA)
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