UN Cyprus Talks: Five-Party Meeting Prep Already In Motion
Cyprus and the UN have begun technical preparations for an enlarged peace conference to resolve the island's division, President Christodoulides announced Saturday.
Speaking to reporters, Christodoulides confirmed that preparatory work began Friday and will continue through August at the technocratic level with UN officials.
The Cypriot president detailed his recent coordination efforts, including what he described as an excellent meeting with EU envoy for Cyprus Raffaelo Fitto, with whom he maintained contact into the evening. According to Christodoulides, technical-level discussions with the UN began immediately thereafter, with the international body also initiating preparatory work with all parties involved, as reported by Katy Turner in Cyprus Mail.
The UN has already engaged a constitutional expert with academic credentials who participated in previous negotiation rounds to assist with the process.
Christodoulides emphasized the significance of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ recent reference to areas of convergence between the parties, calling it a positive development and noting it marked the first time the Secretary-General had highlighted such progress.
National Council Briefing Scheduled
The president has called a meeting of the National Council for Monday to brief party leaders on developments in the peace process.
Regarding Friday’s discussions with Fitto, Christodoulides clarified that the European Union’s role would not extend to the substance of any settlement but could serve as a safeguard mechanism on contentious issues. He also addressed EU-Turkey relations in specific detail, presenting concrete proposals and recommendations while expressing readiness to advance the process.
The Cypriot leader stressed his government’s determination to capitalize on what he characterized as a critical juncture for the Cyprus issue.
Guterres Secures Consensus for Broader Format
The preparatory work follows a visit to Cyprus this week by Antonio Guterres, the UN Secretary-General whose term is approaching its conclusion. During the visit, Guterres announced his intention to convene another meeting in a broader format, contingent on certain conditions being met, though he provided no specific timeline.
The Secretary-General secured consensus from both the Republic of Cyprus and the Turkish pseudostate in northern Cyprus, as well as from the guarantor powers—Greece, Turkey, and the United Kingdom.
With information from Cyprus Mail
