The Government’s firm goal is for an informal meeting in broader format on the Cyprus problem to be convened this summer, Government Spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis said on Thursday after the meeting of the Council of Ministers.
Invited to comment on yesterday’s written statement by Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary General for Cyprus, Maria Angela Holguin, Letymbiotis welcomed the fact that Holguin also recognises the role that the EU can play in the UNSG’s effort adding that this came just one day after the joint statement of the EU High Representative, the two EU Commissioners and the Turkish Foreign Minister where it was stated that they support the efforts of the UN Secretary General.
This is of “particularly exceptional importance, taking into account the timing of both of these statements,’ Letymbiotis said.
Moreover, he noted that Holguin herself mentioned in her statement yesterday that the UN Secretary General remains personally committed to this effort.
The Greek Cypriot side, the Spokesperson said, is in constant consultation with all parties, the UN, the EU, noting that next week the NATO Summit will be held, which will be attended by the President of the European Commission, the President of the European Council and the UN Secretary General, and there will be the opportunity, on the sidelines of the Summit, for important contacts.
“For us, the goal remains unchanged, namely to contribute in every possible way to the convening of the informal multilateral meeting this summer, as Holguin herself mentioned during her last visit to Cyprus,” he noted.
Letymbiotis explained that as regards the informal meeting in broader format, this should have as goal the announcement of the resumption of negotiations with a view to reach a solution of the Cyprus problem.
“We do not want an informal multilateral meeting as an end in itself, we want an informal multilateral in which we will discuss the essence of the Cyprus problem”, he stressed.
Letymbiotis said that consultations are taking place also behind the scenes, they are ongoing, and under the auspices of the UN Secretary General himself. He noted that the only party that must demonstrate a constructive stance, in order for progress to be made on the Cyprus issue, is the occupying force, Turkey.
Replying to a journalist’s remark that in her statement, Holguin did not refer to an expanded conference and asked if the UN Secretary General is having second thoughts due to the lack of enough progress, the Spokesman said that the government does not have such information.
He added that the goal remains the same and that the only party that “should -and we expect it to demonstrate this constructive attitude, especially since it demands improvement and progress in its relations with the EU- is Turkey”.
The Spokesman stressed that the entire international community, the participants in the informal meeting in broader format, the EU as a whole, but also the Greek Cypriot side that has “proven it in practice, want the informal multilateral in which the resumption of negotiations will be announced”.
“If there is sincere political will on behalf of Turkey, then the informal multilateral meeting can and must be convened”, he continued.
Letymbiotis added that “our actions are continuing with the aim of convening the multilateral at the end of July or the beginning of August, whenever this can be practically arranged” adding that they do not have any information about something different.
Invited to comment on yesterday’s statements by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Letymbiotis said that if someone is to blame and is responsible for the lack of progress in EU-Turkey relations, it is Turkey and its approach not only as regards the EU as a whole but also the Republic of Cyprus as a full EU member state.
He added that the positions on Turkey’s progress are clearly outlined in the Conclusions of the European Council that have been unanimously approved by all member states.
Concluding, the Spokesperson pointed out that the EU wants to see progress in its relations with Turkey as long as there is progress on the Cyprus problem, which is a European issue.
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.
After informal meetings in 2025, followed by a hiatus of several months, deliberations are underway for a new meeting in broader format to be held, as the term of the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres nears its end. María Angela Holguín, Guterres’ Personal Envoy on Cyprus, is tasked to engage with the parties.