Nicosia: Our efforts continue with good will in order to achieve positive results and agreements on the issues that the UN Secretary-General defined in the March meeting in Geneva, Foreign Minister Constantinos Kompos said Monday. He noted, however, that the positive outcome does not exclusively depend on the Greek Cypriot side.
According to Cyprus News Agency, in statements to the press following a meeting with his Albanian counterpart, FM Kompos recalled that reaching an agreement on confidence-building measures (CBMs) was not a prerequisite for a follow-up to a new, expanded meeting on the Cyprus problem. However, he emphasized that an agreement on specific issues creates a positive climate.
Regarding the timetable and process for the election of the new leader of the Turkish Cypriot community in October, Kompos stated that there is no luxury to sit and wait until the fall. He was invited to outline the aim for the upcoming July meeting, considering the inability of the two sides to agree on CBMs, and to discuss any conceivable timetable for the effort, given the October election and the EU Cyprus Presidency.
The Greek Cypriot side believes that there must be an intense effort, Kompos said. He highlighted the mobility generated by initiatives at the United Nations and European Union levels, particularly with the appointment of the European envoy, and stressed that these efforts must be utilized to the fullest extent possible.
Kompos noted that an agreement on CBMs could foster a positive climate and momentum for the talks scheduled for July. However, he observed a continued hardening of rhetoric and attitude from the other side, which he described as non-constructive.
Regarding the timetable, Kompos stated that there is a need to reach substantive negotiations, but noted a non-productive approach by the Turkish side. He emphasized the importance of taking advantage of existing parameters in every effort.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, following Turkey’s invasion and occupation of its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have failed to yield results due to Turkish intransigence. The latest negotiations, in July 2017 at Crans-Montana, ended inconclusively.
The UN Secretary-General announced that an informal meeting on Cyprus in a broader format will be held at the end of July, following a similar meeting in Geneva in March. The two sides agreed to proceed with initiatives such as opening crossing points and creating a Technical Committee on Youth, among others.
Ant³nio Guterres, the UN Secretary-General, announced the appointment of Mara Angela Holgun Cu©llar of Colombia as his Personal Envoy on Cyprus in early May. She is tasked with reengaging the parties and advising on next steps. The European Commission also designated Johannes Hahn as Special Envoy for Cyprus to contribute to the settlement process, working closely with Holgun.