“I don’t think the United Nations would have sounded out the parties about a meeting that it itself did not consider important.”
Konstantinos Letympiotis – Government Spokesperson
About 48 hours after the conclusion of the consultations on the Cyprus issue at United Nations headquarters, the trilateral meeting that never took place remains in the spotlight, with both sides trading accusations of a negative stance.
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
On the Alpha News program, the Government Spokesperson indicated that the Greek Cypriot side wanted to discuss the President’s 19 new proposals, which concern both confidence-building measures and methodology and substance.
SEE ALSO: Nikos Christodoulides Briefs the National Council on Developments in New York
“But there cannot be a division of responsibilities when one side not only accepts but also acts constructively.”
Konstantinos Letympiotis
With Tufan Erhurman, responding during a conference lasting about an hour.
“We didn’t go to New York because we had scheduled a meeting with Mr. Christodoulides. We go to New York every year during the UN General Assembly anyway.”
Tufan Erhurman
Reiterating that rather than discussing Christodoulides’ 19 new proposals, it would be more beneficial to make progress on the 7 Confidence-Building Measures requested by António Guterres.
“Our side, of course, asked whether there had been any progress regarding these confidence-building measures. Whether there was any possibility of reaching an agreement on any issue. But on none of the seven points I just mentioned, was there any possibility of a compromise at that moment, and Rosemary Di Carlo, Olgin, Dana, and Menelaos Menelaou all saw that as well.”
Tufan Erhurman
The big question now is what will happen next.
In October, Olgin will return to Cyprus with the convergence document.
READ ALSO: “There is a possibility of a compromise on a rotating presidency”: What Erhurman claims Olgin told him in New York
However, this document will not be provided to both sides before negotiations begin, with Nicosia claiming that this is due to an objection from the Turkish side.
“Releasing it earlier could spark a new dispute over the negotiating framework and its interpretation.The document will be handed over when negotiations begin and when it becomes useful.”
María Ángela Olguín – Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General
The Colombian official is concerned that the window of opportunity is slowly closing.
“The UN is in Cyprus to facilitate, not to impose or dictate what should be done. Every negotiation requires the parties to have the will to make concessions. Building consensus and seeking mutual benefit are essential. However, these do not seem to exist at the moment.”
María Ángela Olguín
Amid criticism, including from within his own party, Nikos Christodoulides is convening a meeting of the National Council on Wednesday.
This criticism has introduced new dynamics into the presidential election as well.
Watch Giorgos Georgiadis’s report:
