Nicosia: Preparatory work is underway by the United Nations, based on the convergences achieved so far on the Cyprus problem, with the aim of using them as the basis on which a decision to resume negotiations will be taken at the next expanded meeting.
According to Cyprus News Agency, the UN team also includes a constitutional law expert, who is working with the UN Secretariat to reconfirm the existing convergences. The sources indicate that this preparatory work aims to provide a foundation for resuming negotiations at the next expanded meeting.
The UN team comprises a constitutional law expert and specialists in international law, though the constitutional expert is not attending meetings in Cyprus. The sources note that there are convergences on numerous issues, and if reconfirmed, discussions could proceed on remaining issues to achieve a comprehensive final outcome. Turkey's insistence on a two-state solution remains, as reiterated in public statements.
A meeting between the two leaders has been announced for August 26, with preparatory work ongoing to build on existing groundwork. It remains uncertain if a meeting will occur in September during the UN General Assembly, as the period is busy with high-level meetings. Clarity on the next steps is expected in the coming period, with consideration of scheduling around the General Assembly or another more convenient time.
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 due to Turkish intransigence. The latest negotiations in July 2017 at Crans-Montana ended inconclusively. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, nearing the end of his term, announced plans for another broader meeting after adequate preparation, securing consensus from both sides and guarantor powers. Mara Angela Holgun, Guterres' Personal Envoy on Cyprus, and Executive Vice-President Raffaele Fitto, the European Commission's Special Representative for Cyprus, lead these efforts.