“I am also waiting for some responses from the Turkish Cypriot leader regarding some of the proposals we had submitted. He asked for a little more time to get back to us, requested some clarifications—which I provided—and promised to follow up at the next meeting.”
Nikos Christodoulides – President of the Republic
That’s more or less how today’s meeting—the thirteenth in a row—between President Christodoulides and Tufan Erhurman went.
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
In other words, it was a low-key affair, with discouraging results regarding the holding of an informal five-party meeting before the end of António Guterres’s term.
The two leaders agreed on issues related to the environment and cultural heritage, while significant progress on confidence-building measures—such as the opening of a roadblock—is still pending.
“There is a specific proposal for which I am awaiting a response. I made two alternative proposals. One was rejected; as for the second, I am waiting—some clarifications were requested today. It consists of 19 points, and the Turkish Cypriot leader asked me to revisit the matter at our next meeting, after I provided the clarifications.”
Nikos Christodoulides – President of the Republic
At least things are moving forward.
Christodoulides and Erhurman have scheduled a new meeting for next week, most likely on the 27th of the month. Once again, this will take place in the absence of Maria Olgin, who is scheduled to arrive on the island on October 29.
“Before the Personal Envoy’s arrival, the two leaders intend to meet with the Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage and the Technical Committee on Youth, as well as with the Coordinating Committee of the Civil Society Advisory Body.”
United Nations
Olgin’s trilateral meeting with the two leaders—which will determine whether the Guterres initiative reaches an impasse—is scheduled for November 9.
At the same time, all eyes are on Hakan Fidan’s crucial visit to Brussels. Nicosia is in constant contact with European Union leadership in order to receive updates in the coming hours.
According to information from Alpha, the Turkish Foreign Minister was scheduled to meet with Kaya Kallas, the European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs.
This meeting is a follow-up to the discussions the two held a few months ago, during which Ms. Callas raised Euro-Turkish issues in relation to the Cyprus problem.
Nicosia is waiting with bated breath, with President Christodoulides emphasizing the critical nature of the meeting.
“There is also a very important meeting today; we’ll see the results, and depending on the outcome of these two parallel efforts, this issue will be decided.”
Nikos Christodoulides – President of the Republic
The only thing that is certain is that Fidan met with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. However, it is not known whether the Cyprus issue was among the topics discussed.
