There is palpable disappointment at the United Nations over the continued lack of progress on the Cyprus issue, just hours before the two leaders travel to New York for talks with António Guterres on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.
When the Secretary-General departed Cyprus on July 19, he knew that substantive developments were unlikely.
He did, however, expect agreement at least on the methodology, while also holding out hope for a resolution regarding the opening of two roadblocks, so that the Joint Contact Groups could give new momentum to the process.
None of this was achieved, resulting in limited expectations, at a time when it cannot be ruled out that António Guterres may decide not to invest any further political capital in the Cyprus issue, just a few months before he hands over the reins of the UN.
All Eyes on New York
Nicosia, however, expects that the 19 points submitted by President Christodoulides to Tufan Erhürman will break the deadlock in the process.
Consequently, he will present them in New York, where he will have a packed schedule of important meetings before addressing the General Assembly on Wednesday and meeting with António Guterres on Thursday.
Among the figures the President of the Republic will certainly meet will be the Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy, María Ángela Olguín, who is expected, following the conclusion of the UN General Assembly, to assess the developments regarding the Cyprus issue.
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
Almost… pessimistic
Tufan Erhürman is also departing for New York, where he will once again present to the Secretary-General the conditions that the Turkish side has been setting for some time now, which would allow for direct negotiations on the Cyprus issue after 10 years of deadlock.
Before his departure, he attended the burial ceremony for the 15 missing Turkish Cypriots whose remains were found in the occupied village of Santalari.
On the sidelines of the ceremony, he made it clear that he would fight in the negotiations for the rights and future of his people.
“The struggle for survival and the suffering endured by the Turkish Cypriot people cannot be ignored or forgotten. Our people are fighting and will continue to fight for their survival under difficult conditions.”
Tufan Erhurman – Turkish Cypriot leader
He reiterated that there is still much work to be done on the Cyprus issue, while noting that there does not appear to be readiness for the next step.
Watch Giorgos Chrysanthos’s report:
