Nicosia: President of Cyprus Nikos Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman met on Friday, exchanging views on key issues and determining a path forward, while expressing appreciation for the UN Secretary-General's continued dedication to resolving the Cyprus issue.
According to Cyprus News Agency, the meeting took place at the Residence of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Cyprus, Khassim Diagne, in a constructive atmosphere. The leaders discussed various subjects, emphasizing the UN's role in facilitating dialogue and progress.
The leaders agreed on several initiatives, including establishing a consultative body for civil society engagement and preparing a plan for conducting religious services across the island for an initial six-month period. They also focused on a coordinated response to tackle foot and mouth disease and agreed to establish a sub-committee under the Technical Committee on Economic and Commercial matters to discuss issues related to the designation of products as PGOs/PGIs.
The meeting concluded with a commitment to reconvene shortly, marking a continued effort towards addressing the longstanding division of Cyprus since 1974. Despite numerous UN-led peace initiatives, resolution has remained elusive, primarily due to Turkish resistance. Recent informal meetings, including those in Geneva, New York, and a tripartite session during the UN General Assembly, underscore ongoing international efforts. The anticipated broader informal meeting to further this dialogue is yet to be announced, with Mara Angela Holgun, the UN Secretary-General's Personal Envoy on Cyprus, actively engaging with the parties.