Nicosia: The President of the Republic is prepared to do whatever may help lead to the resumption of negotiations and the resolution of the Cyprus issue, Director of the President's Press Office, Victoras Papadopoulos, said on Monday following the meeting of the National Council at the Presidential Palace.
According to Cyprus News Agency, Papadopoulos stated that the President had given members of the National Council 'a comprehensive briefing' on his meetings with the UN Secretary-General, including both their bilateral meeting and the meetings held in the presence of the Turkish Cypriot leader, Tufan Erhrman.
Papadopoulos further informed that the President briefed the Council on the visit to Cyprus by the European Union's Special Envoy for Cyprus and Vice-President of the European Commission, Raffaele Fitto, which took place immediately after the UN Secretary-General's visit. He also exchanged views with Council members on the next steps, which began the day after the Secretary-General's visit to Cyprus, aiming to lead to the expanded meeting announced by the UN Secretary-General, for which he has already received the green light from all parties involved.
It was particularly encouraging, Papadopoulos noted, that following the suspension of negotiations in 2017, the UN Secretary-General had reiterated his commitment to conducting efforts within the framework of the United Nations, based on the agreed convergences and the results of previous negotiations. The Secretary-General called on the parties to continue negotiations from where they were interrupted in the summer of 2017.
Papadopoulos added that the President had informed the National Council of his availability to the United Nations throughout August. 'From the day after the meeting with the Secretary-General, we have been working with the UN Secretariat and the Secretary-General's representatives towards that objective,' he said.
The President outlined to Council members the actions he intends to take to ensure the success of the Secretary-General's efforts to convene an expanded meeting as soon as possible. When asked about the realistic expectations of the UN completing the process of recording the agreed convergences before the UN General Assembly, Papadopoulos stated that the UN has a clear plan.
'The Secretary-General has a specific plan, and the fact that he is proceeding with it means he considers the available timeframe realistic, both for convening an expanded conference and for restarting negotiations with prospects for success,' Papadopoulos said.
Regarding the focus of the preparatory phase on confidence-building measures, documenting the convergences, or arranging another meeting between President Christodoulides and Erhrman, Papadopoulos emphasized the Secretary-General's goal for the expanded meeting to produce a concrete outcome, specifically the resumption of negotiations.
Papadopoulos acknowledged the importance of confidence-building measures in creating a positive climate, although they are not essential. 'The President of the Republic attaches great importance to this aspect as well, which is why he has specific proposals to put forward in that regard,' he said.
When questioned about Turkey's response beyond agreeing to the convening of the expanded conference, Papadopoulos noted that the Secretary-General has secured the green light from all parties to convene a conference aimed at resuming negotiations. He highlighted the preparatory work required for a successful outcome.
In response to a social media post by Erhrman proposing weekly meetings with the President of the Republic, Papadopoulos stated that anything which could help achieve the objective of resuming negotiations and resolving the Cyprus issue is something the President is prepared to do.
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 the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana, ended inconclusively.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, whose term nears its end, announced plans to convene another meeting in a broader format after adequate preparation, without providing a timeline. He secured consensus from both sides and the guarantor powers, with Mara Angela Holgun, Guterres' Personal Envoy on Cyprus, engaging with the parties. Executive Vice-President Raffaele Fitto serves as the European Commission's Special Representative for Cyprus.