Nicosia: The Ambassador of France to Cyprus, Clélia Chevrier Kolacko, has expressed hope that the two sides in Cyprus will find common ground as UN Deputy Secretary-General Rosemary Di Carlo prepares to visit the island. Di Carlo is scheduled to meet with the President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, and Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar on Monday.
According to Cyprus News Agency, Ambassador Kolacko, speaking at an event at the French-Cypriot school in Nicosia, emphasized the importance of putting forward concrete proposals rather than dwelling on past issues. She reiterated France’s willingness to assist the Cyprus government in achieving a solution based on a bizonal bicommunal federation with political equality, which France views as the only realistic option.
The Ambassador welcomed Di Carlo’s visit and expressed hope that both parties would find common ground and make progress. She also mentioned France’s support for the resumption of discussions under the UN Secretary General last October. Ko
lacko noted that France is open to meeting with Di Carlo during her visit if time permits.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, following Turkey’s invasion and occupation of the northern part of the island. Despite repeated UN-led peace talks, a resolution has remained elusive. The most recent negotiations in July 2017 at Crans-Montana ended without a conclusive agreement.
On October 15, 2024, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres hosted an informal dinner with President Christodoulides and Ersin Tatar in New York, encouraging them to bridge their differences and rebuild trust to facilitate a settlement. At this meeting, the leaders agreed to hold an informal meeting in the near future under the Secretary-General’s auspices to discuss a path forward.
During a meeting on Monday with Guterres in New York, Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos conveyed Cyprus’s commitment to resuming substantive negotiations. He emphasized the need for clarity in the message to the UN Secretary General and the importance of pre
paration.
Last week, UN Secretary General’s Special Representative for Cyprus Colin Stewart reported progress in discussions about opening new crossing points after separate meetings with the two leaders. He noted a strong desire on both sides to find a solution. This development followed a meeting between President Christodoulides and Ersin Tatar, where Christodoulides presented an eight-point package on the crossing points and other ideas discussed with the UN Secretary General in New York.