Nicosia: Government Spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis expressed hope that the upcoming joint meeting between the leaders of the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities, scheduled for December 11, will serve as a decisive step toward resuming negotiations on the Cyprus issue. Letymbiotis mentioned that President Nikos Christodoulides will brief the National Council immediately afterward on the outcome of these talks.
According to Cyprus News Agency, Letymbiotis made these remarks following President Christodoulides’ meeting with Marangela Holgun, the UN Secretary-General’s personal envoy on Cyprus. Letymbiotis described the discussion as constructive, noting that the President addressed key issues related to restarting negotiations and the Confidence-Building Measures agreed upon during two previous multilateral meetings.
A primary focus of the talks was the upcoming meeting with Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar. Letymbiotis stated that Nicosia hopes this meeting will initiate renewed discussions. He also highlighted the presence of EU envoy Johannes Hahn on the same day, calling it a fortunate coincidence given the importance of the European dimension to the Cyprus problem.
The President has scheduled the National Council to convene on Friday, immediately following the joint meeting, to brief political leaders on the outcomes. Letymbiotis emphasized the purpose of Holgun’s visit as preparation for a multilateral conference.
Holgun plans to travel to Athens and Ankara after her visit to Cyprus and will meet with Hahn during their stay, with further travels and contacts planned. The aim is to set a date for convening the multilateral talks as soon as possible, as Letymbiotis reiterated the government’s commitment to resuming meaningful negotiations.
Letymbiotis assured that President Christodoulides is fully prepared to address all issues, including points from Tufan Erhrman’s proposal, before Holgun on Thursday. Discussions will focus on resuming substantive negotiations from where they left off in Crans-Montana.
Regarding specific proposals, Letymbiotis mentioned there had been concrete discussions about restarting negotiations and preparing for the multilateral conference the UN Secretary-General hopes to convene. He expressed a hope that optimism would translate into tangible outcomes at the negotiation table.
Holgun’s extended stay in Cyprus is seen as an opportunity for significant contacts, while Hahn’s presence is viewed as a valuable chance to further the process. Letymbiotis noted that although no additional meeting with the President was scheduled before December 11, Holgun’s program would be announced by the UN.
The Cyprus issue remains unresolved since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Despite numerous UN-led peace talks, a resolution has remained elusive. Recent efforts include informal meetings hosted by the Secretary-General, with a broader format meeting expected later this year.
Mara ngela Holgun and Johannes Hahn are tasked with engaging the parties to contribute to the settlement process.