Cyprus leaders set to hold reunification talks amid rising tensions
Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman will meet August 26 to discuss opening crossing points between the divided communities.
Konstantinos Letymbiotis confirmed on Monday that Greek and Turkish Cypriot negotiators will convene this week to lay the groundwork for the leadership exchange, which is scheduled for 4pm on August 26.
In statements to CyBC, Letymbiotis indicated that Christodoulides would approach the discussions with a constructive mindset, emphasizing that the government remains focused on tangible progress, particularly regarding the opening of additional crossing points between the two communities.
UN Proposal on Crossing Points Remains Central
The spokesman reiterated the significance of a proposal from UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres that would see the simultaneous opening of crossing points at Athienou and Mia Milia. The issue of new crossings continues to be a major point of dispute between the two sides.
Four crossing points were part of a package agreed during an expanded meeting in Geneva last year, with both sides tasked with proposing two locations each. The government of Cyprus later suggested opening two crossings in an initial phase, linking the Athienou to Aglandjia road with a crossing at Mia Milia, while deferring Louroujina to a subsequent stage.
The leadership of the Turkish Pseudostate in Northern Cyprus rejected this phased approach and has insisted that all four crossings be opened simultaneously.
Preparing for Broader Negotiations
The August 26 meeting is intended to set the stage for a new expanded session on the Cyprus problem. Following his recent visit to the island, Guterres stated that another informal expanded meeting would take place once adequate preparations had been finalized.
The UN chief emphasized the importance of thorough preparation, stating that the UN would work with both communities and the guarantor powers to establish conditions conducive to a successful outcome.
Recording Process and UN Envoy Status
Letymbiotis also confirmed that the process of recording meetings between the two sides has commenced and is expected to be completed within the coming weeks. When asked about the potential arrival of UN envoy Maria Angela Holguin, he said no information was currently available regarding the timing of her visit to Cyprus.
Both Christodoulides and Erhurman have previously advocated for more frequent contact as part of efforts to restart formal negotiations. The president has expressed readiness to hold weekly meetings with Erhurman, a sentiment echoed by the Turkish Cypriot leader.
Christodoulides is also scheduled to travel to New York at the end of September for the UN General Assembly, where he will hold discussions with Guterres.
With information from Cyprus Mail
