Based on the current circumstances, ‘we are ready to resume talks from where they left off at Crans-Montana’, President Nikos Christodoulides said on Wednesday, following his approximately one-hour meeting with Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhrman.
Speaking to reporters on his return to the Presidential Palace after the meeting with Erhrman, President Christodoulides said that the next meeting would take place either on Wednesday or Friday next week, following a meeting between the two sides’ negotiators.
He also said that there could potentially be a joint meeting between himself and the Turkish Cypriot leader in New York, either with the UN Secretary-General or his Personal Envoy, Maria Angela Holguin, or at negotiator level.
Asked by a journalist about the relatively short duration of the meeting, the President of the Republic said that it was short, ‘but substantive in terms of the issues discussed.’
He said that discussions had continued on the three issues – methodology, substance and confidence-building measures. ‘On some issues there is progress, in the sense that there is a common understanding, while on others, disagreements and different approaches remain. We will continue the discussion at our level next week, and before the meeting there will also be a meeting of the negotiators,’ he added.
Asked whether there had been any progress on issues over which there had been disagreements for some time, the President said that ‘on some there is a common understanding, regarding, for example, the importance of the convergences, while on others there is still disagreement and a different approach, which is why the discussion will continue.’
Asked by a journalist about the fact that the recording of the convergences was supposed to have been completed by the end of August, President Christodoulides said that, according to the information they had received, it was at a very advanced final stage. ‘It is a matter of days before it is completed, and we will see how the United Nations will handle it.’
‘I imagine that, according to some information we have – although nothing is certain – there may be a joint meeting in New York, either with the Secretary-General or his Personal Envoy, either at leaders’ level or at negotiators’ level. We will see,’ he said, noting that once there was something specific, it would be announced.
Asked by a journalist about Holguín’s announcement that she would not travel to New York, the President of the Republic clarified that the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy had said that she would not go today, when she had been scheduled to meet with the Secretary-General, but that, according to information they will speak by telephone today.
Asked whether there was enough time, with only one meeting remaining with the Turkish Cypriot leader before the trip to New York, to produce deliverables and present them to the UN Secretary-General, President Christodoulides noted that the next leaders’ meeting will be a continuation of their previous meetings but also a continuation of the meetings held by the negotiators. ‘So, we are not starting from scratch at the next meeting to discuss the issues. The matters before us are very specific. On some there is a common understanding, while on others there is disagreement and a different approach, and the discussion on these issues will continue,’ he added.
Asked whether the disagreement concerned the route from the Athienou crossing point, the President noted that discussion today was not so much about confidence-building measures, but rather focused more on the other two aspects, namely substance and methodology.
Asked whether he was satisfied with the methodology and substance as discussed during his meeting with the Turkish Cypriot leader, President Christodoulides said: ‘I believe that the issues concerning both methodology and substance are clear, as is how we can move forward and how the conditions for the resumption of talks can be created. Personally, because I cannot speak on behalf of anyone else, I believe that, based on the current circumstances, we are ready to resume the talks from where they left off at Crans-Montana.’
‘I believe that it is there, at the negotiating table, that we will all be judged, including myself, as to whether there is genuinely the political will to move forward towards resolving the Cyprus problem,’ he added.
Asked by a journalist about the apparent difference of opinion on this matter between himself and Erhrman, the President said that he could not speak for Erhrman, nor comment on the question. ‘Mr Erhrman will speak if he considers it necessary and will express his views,’ he said.
Asked whether Erhrman had also told him in person what he had written in a social media post – that it was not easy to ‘make history’ on the Cyprus issue – the President of the Republic said they discussed that issue as well. ‘I expressed my view, and Mr Erhrman expressed his. We discuss all issues’, he said.
Asked whether Erhrman’s post had affected the atmosphere of the meeting, he said that he was not influenced either by posts or by statements, because he has ‘a clear objective’. ‘I know where we want to go and what we want to achieve. For us, there is no alternative to resolving the Cyprus problem and reunifying our homeland’, he said, adding that he does not let anything to distract him from that objective, or allow himself to get drawn into a blame game ‘or anything else that could, in one way or another, distract us from the substance of the Cyprus problem’. ‘Because, ultimately, we will all be judged on the substance at the negotiating table,’ he added.
Participation of contingent from Egypt at October 1 parade
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Asked to comment on media reports that a contingent from Egypt would participate in the parade marking Cyprus’ Independence on October 1, the President said consultations were underway between the National Guard and the two countries’ Ministries of Defence. ‘As far as I have been informed, there will be a contingent from Egypt’, he said.
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.