Greek Cypriot negotiator, Menelaos Menelaou, and Turkish Cypriot leader’s Special Representative, Ergn Olgun, had a new online meeting on Thursday, under the auspices of the UNSG’s Special Representative on the island, Colin Stewart. CNA has learnt that they continued to review issues discussed by the bicommunal Technical Committees and exchanged views as regards the efforts aiming to revitalise prospects to reach a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem. As regards what can be expected during the coming period regarding the Cyprus problem in general and the efforts to revitalise the negotiating process, possible steps are anticipated after the elections in Turkey and Greece. In this context, it is expected that efforts by the UNSG by way of meetings of a high ranking UN Secretariat official with all parties involved will continue. Meanwhile, during the next period of time it is expected that certain initiatives by the Technical Committee on Gender Equality, the Technical Committee on Crises Management on issues related to dealing with fires and earthquakes, the Technical Committee on the Environment, the Technical Committee on Culture and the Technical Committee on Economic Matters will be implemented. Moreover, the Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage, and the Technical Committees on Education, Health, Crime and Humanitarian Issues, continue their work. 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. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively.
Source: Cyprus News Agency