President Nikos Christodoulides’s meeting with Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman on August 26 is likely to include discussion of whether there is intent on the Turkish Cypriot side to make progress on confidence-building measures (CBMs), particularly regarding crossing points, competent sources told CNA. The sources noted that this discussion had already taken place before UN Secretary-General António Guterres, and that the Secretary-General has submitted a proposal to which the Greek Cypriot side responded positively.
Negotiators from both sides are expected to meet to prepare for the August 26 meeting, the sources said.
On the expanded meeting on the Cyprus problem, the sources added that preparatory work on substance must continue. They said the recording of convergences is already under way, which will be given to all involved parties — the two sides in Cyprus and the guarantor powers — after which the Secretary-General is expected to proceed with convening the expanded meeting. According to the same sources, it is estimated to be a matter of weeks before the convergences are given to the parties involved.
The sources also said the aim is for a decision to launch talks to be taken at the expanded meeting.
The UN Secretary-General announced, following his joint meeting with President Christodoulides and Erhurman on July 29 in Nicosia, that he had decided to convene one more 5+1 meeting, following appropriate preparation on confidence-building measures, methodology and substance, taking into account the convergences already achieved.
(Information from Cyprus News Agency)
