President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, expressed on Monday his readiness to meet with the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy for Cyprus, Maria Angela Holguin, and the Turkish Cypriot leader, today or tomorrow, if Holguin deems it necessary.
In statements to journalists before attending the Annual General Assembly of the Association of Large Investment Projects, in Nicosia, the President of the Republic said that responses are expected both to the specific proposals submitted by the Greek Cypriot side as well as to issues discussed with Holguin.
He recalled that he had already expressed to the Personal Envoy of the UNSG his readiness to change his schedule so that a joint meeting of the three can take place, if the need arises after her meeting with the Turkish Cypriot leader on Monday. Alternatively, he added, he is available to meet with her in person.
‘We certainly expect, I hope, that something will emerge that will lead to a joint meeting,’ he said.
Asked whether the conditions exist for convening an expanded meeting before the end of the current UN Secretary-General’s term, the President stressed that this is an ‘absolutely feasible goal,’ noting that what is needed is political will.
Moreover, the President pointed out that the Greek Cypriot side is constantly submitting proposals and suggestions for achieving this goal, which, demonstrate its political will and readiness to proceed to an expanded meeting, during which the resumption of talks will be announced.
As regards any developments during the period between Holguin’s bilateral meetings with the two leaders and the next trilateral meeting, the President said that the Turkish Cypriot leader will be away from Wednesday to Friday.
Asked about a possible meeting between Holguin and mayors and community leaders of occupied municipalities and communities, the President said that he was not aware of her schedule, adding, however, that he encouraged her to respond positively to the relevant request submitted by the occupied municipalities.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results due to Turkish intransigence. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, whose term nears its end, announced he would convene another meeting in broader format, after adequate preparation, but gave no timeline. He secured to that end the consensus of both sides and of the guarantor powers. María Angela Holguín, Guterres’ Personal Envoy on Cyprus, is tasked to engage with the parties. Executive Vice-President Raffaele Fitto acts as the European Commission’s Special Representative for Cyprus, succeeding EU special envoy Johannes Hahn.