Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar appeared positive about meeting informally with Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides.
According to information from the Turkish and Cypriot media, Tatar, upon returning from New York on the sidelines of the 79th UN General Assembly, said “yes” to sitting – informally – at the same table with Nikos Christodoulidis, after this having urged the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, on the issue of Cyprus, which reportedly blocked in October.
Although Tatar is negative about “sitting at the negotiating table until sovereign equality and equal international status are registered“, such a development could perhaps pave the way for a 4+1 meeting, i.e. Cyprus, Turkey, Greece, Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots, under the UN “umbrella”.
Nikos Christodoulidis’s answer
On the other hand, Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulidis in his KYPE interview states that it was clear in his meeting with the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, that the resumption of negotiations depends exclusively on the Turkish side.
In the interview he gave shortly before his departure from New York, Mr Christodoulidis highlighted that “both the Secretary-General and the five permanent members of the Security Council have exactly the same approach as we do, i.e. it is not a question of resuming talks and resolving the Cyprus issue outside the framework defined by Security Council resolutions».
He also added that Cyprus responded positively to all the bolidoscopies that were carried out on it.
“We also responded positively to all possible dates that were suggested to us for holding such a meeting. We know very well what our objective is through the negotiations, we know what we want and we have absolute confidence, not only in our arguments, but also in the benefits that can arise for everyone involved through the resolution of the Cyprus issue on the basis always , I repeat, within the agreed framework,” he said.
Nikos Christodoulidis also noted that “at this time, we hope to be informed through the United Nations, for the Turkish side’s response to the Secretary General’s call for a possible meeting in Octoberwhat we hope will happen.”
Greece’s attitude
The feeling in Athens is that the opportunity must be seized and the parties involved must come to the dialogue table and the government is at a level of readiness, if deemed appropriate, to contribute to the dialogue framework.
However, the relatively good understanding that exists between Greece and Turkey is something that will contribute positively, believes Athens.
It is clear that Greece’s firm position is that the solution to the Cyprus issue must be within the framework of UN Security Council resolutions.
As Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis emphasized on the UN podium in New York, “responding” to Erdogan’s provocative statement on the recognition of the pseudo-state, “I reaffirm the commitment to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Cyprus and in a solution based on a Bizonal Bicommunal Federation, with sovereignty, citizenship and an international personality, in accordance with relevant UN Security Council resolutions. The two-state solution cannot and will not be accepted.”
