The government hopes that Tuesday’s meeting between Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman will lead to tangible progress towards the resumption of Cyprus talks, Government Spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis said, calling on the Turkish Cypriot side to contribute constructively to the UN Secretary-General’s efforts.
Speaking to journalists after President Christodoulides briefed representatives of EDEK, DEPA and the Greens on the Cyprus issue, Letymbiotis said the government had yet to receive a response from Erhurman to the President’s 19-point proposal.
He expressed hope that the October 13 meeting would provide an opportunity for a thorough discussion of the proposals and the next steps in the process.
‘We all want to see further steps and make the most of the time remaining before the end of the UN Secretary-General’s current term,’ he said, stressing the need for tangible progress.
Letymbiotis said the Greek Cypriot side had accepted all the points agreed at the two previous expanded meetings on Cyprus, as well as the compromise proposal put forward by the UN Secretary-General. President Christodoulides had submitted his 19 proposals to help move the process forward, he added.
Asked whether the proposals included the port of Famagusta and the fenced-off area of Varosha, Letymbiotis declined to confirm or deny this, noting that none of the 19 points had been made public.
He said the proposals addressed confidence-building measures, the methodology for taking the process forward and substantive issues, reflecting the three pillars identified by the UN Secretary-General.
The Spokesperson said the government had received no indication that Erhurman had rejected the proposals, adding that rejecting them without discussion would not help move the process forward.
He stressed that President Christodoulides remained open to discussing proposals from the Turkish Cypriot side, as he had done in the past.
Letymbiotis expressed hope for a frank and productive discussion on Tuesday, recalling that the leaders’ previous meeting on September 19 had taken place in a similar atmosphere.
He also reiterated the government’s view that a joint meeting with the UN Secretary-General would be particularly helpful in advancing the process.
EU letter concerning cancelled events in occupied areas
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Asked about Erhurman’s statement that he had received a response from the EU concerning the cancellation of festivals and a football camp in the Turkish-occupied areas of Cyprus, Letymbiotis stressed the EU’s important role both in efforts to resolve the Cyprus issue and after a settlement.
He declined to comment on Erhurman’s social media post, pointing out that the full text of the EU letter had not been made public.
Letymbiotis said the Republic of Cyprus, as a sovereign state, was exercising its rights to protect its interests in the context of the island’s continuing division and occupation.
Asked about remarks by Turkish Defence Minister Yasar Guler, who had also criticised the Greek Cypriot side over the cancellation of events in the occupied areas, Letymbiotis referred to the President’s 19-point proposal as an effort to create the conditions identified by the UN Secretary-General as a priority.
He said the Greek Cypriot side had acted responsibly over the past 52 years and had shown a constructive attitude and support for Turkish Cypriots, particularly over the past three and a half years.
Letymbiotis described Turkey’s criticism as contradictory, pointing to the continued occupation of 37% of Cyprus’ territory and Ankara’s refusal to recognise the Republic of Cyprus, an EU member state.
He stressed that these issues could ultimately be resolved through a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus issue.
Asked whether the government would seek a copy of the EU letter or send its own correspondence to Brussels, Letymbiotis said the EU was kept regularly informed, including through weekly briefings, of developments on the Cyprus issue.
He also referred to a meeting between President Christodoulides and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen the previous day.
Letymbiotis stressed that the Republic of Cyprus was an integral part of the EU, adding that its actions, positions and policies were also those of the Union.
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. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively.