‘Resuming negotiations does not just depend on Greek Cypriots’
President Nikos Christodoulides on Tuesday briefed the National Council over his contacts in New York and his meeting with UN general-secretary Antonio Guterres, with Cyprus’ two largest parties emerging from the meeting calling for the importance of resuming negotiations.
Briefing reporters after the national council meeting, government spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis said that in New York, Christodoulides reiterated to Guterres “our readiness to have a mutual meeting with (Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin) Tatar in the presence of the UN secretary general.”
Asked to comment over the appointment of a UN envoy, Letymbiotis said the Greek Cypriot side was hoping for an appointment “as soon as possible so as to explore the possibility of resuming negotiations.”
Nonetheless, he sought to stress that resuming talks does not depend only on the Greek Cypriot side.
Commenting on the next steps forward, Letymbiotis noted the European Council will take place in December where Euro-Turkish matters will be discussed.
“The matters that Turkey ranks high in its priorities are immediately linked to the road of resuming negotiations and the path of these talks.”
Asked if an answer was expected from Tatar over the appointment of a UN envoy, Letymbiotis sidestepped the question saying the Greek Cypriot side had reiterated to Guterres that this would be a high-value move, reminding that this was the position all Security Council members adopted.”
According to the spokesman “the international community recognises our constructive stance” and that while in New York, Christodoulides sent “clear messages.” These were towards Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan as well as the international community.
He added that “our expectations can never be lowered, especially where the most important matter is concerned – our national issue.”