Nicosia: United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres is striving for the resumption of negotiations on the Cyprus issue before his term concludes, with the expanded 5+1 meeting being a part of this strategic effort, as per competent sources acquainted with the ongoing consultations.
According to Cyprus News Agency, these sources revealed that the expanded meeting is intended solely to announce the initiation of substantive negotiations. They emphasized the necessity for all parties involved to engage in serious preparation to pave the way for tangible progress. The Secretary-General, who recently visited Cyprus for a series of discussions, secured positive consent from all parties to convene this expanded meeting-a development that was uncertain until approximately two weeks ago.
A pivotal moment in this process was the telephone communication between Guterres and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, during which Guterres received affirmative commitment for the meeting.
The basis of the next phase, according to the same sources, is described as positive and substantive. There is now an agreement among all involved parties on the next steps in the process. The absence of deadlock allows a transition from the preparation stage to the substantive stage. The Secretary-General conveyed to the Cypriot government that the process would continue in the spirit of the Guterres Framework without necessarily using its specific name.
The UN Secretary-General remains committed to the agreed United Nations framework. The negotiating accomplishments and body of work developed over previous years are not lost but will form the foundation for the next phase of negotiations. The process will adhere to relevant Security Council resolutions, aiming for a solution that incorporates the three non-negotiable attributes of one sovereignty, one citizenship, and one international personality ("three singles"). It will also ensure compatibility with the European acquis throughout Cyprus and address security issues, including the abolition of the system of guarantees and the withdrawal of occupying forces.
Competent sources highlighted the significance of the Secretary-General's references to previous negotiations and the role of guarantor powers. They noted the UNSG's focus on "people" rather than "communities," which marks a shift from his previous public statements.
Regarding confidence-building measures, the sources reported that the UN Secretary General sought progress on new crossing points. Guterres proposed the simultaneous opening of the Mia Milia and a crossing point in the Athienou area. The President of the Republic accepted this proposal, but the Turkish Cypriot leader did not, resulting in no official announcement.
President Christodoulides also proposed measures for addressing missing persons, aiming to facilitate the Committee on Missing Persons' work through access to more military areas and Turkish army archives. The Secretary General acknowledged the importance of this issue but refrained from making an official announcement.
In parallel, the President of Cyprus proposed goodwill initiatives or steps of mutual benefit between Cyprus and Turkey, which Guterres may convey through his communication with the Turkish Foreign Minister. European Union Special Representative for Cyprus, Raffaele Fitto, is expected to visit Cyprus to hold discussions, following an intervention by the UNSG. The National Council of Cyprus is also set to convene to discuss the results of the Secretary-General's visit and the upcoming steps in the process.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, following Turkey's invasion and occupation of its northern third. Despite numerous UN-led peace talks, a resolution has not been achieved due to Turkish intransigence. The most recent negotiation round in 2017 at Crans-Montana ended without success. As the term of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres approaches its end, efforts are underway for a new meeting in a broader format, facilitated by Mara Angela Holgun, Guterres' Personal Envoy on Cyprus, and Executive Vice-President Raffaele Fitto, the European Commission's Special Representative for Cyprus.