Preparatory work ahead of a new expanded conference on the Cyprus issue is focusing on the agreements reached during the Crans-Montana talks, while meetings between the negotiators of the two sides are expected to begin during August, according to informed sources cited by the Cyprus News Agency (CNA).
The same sources said that efforts following the recent visit of United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres are centred primarily on the substance of the Cyprus issue, with the main objective being to document all the areas of agreement achieved during previous rounds of negotiations up to Crans-Montana.
At the same time, discussions in Cyprus on confidence-building measures will continue, although these are not considered the main focus of the current process.
Crossing points remain under discussion
According to the sources, the UN secretary-general included confidence-building measures within the broader framework of efforts aimed at advancing the process, which is regarded as a natural development given that discussions are already under way on a number of related issues.
The most significant confidence-building measure currently under discussion is the opening of new crossing points. The sources said the strongest prospects for agreement concern the crossings at Mia Milia and along the Athienou-Pyroi-Aglantzia route.
According to information obtained by CNA, the United Nations has submitted a bridging proposal regarding the routing of the two crossings.
While the Turkish Cypriot side supported routes located entirely in the north and the Greek Cypriot side favoured routes within the buffer zone, the UN proposal provides for an arrangement in which half of the route would be located in the north and the other half within the buffer zone.
The sources said the proposal has been accepted by the Greek Cypriot side but not by the Turkish Cypriot side. They added that this is the same proposal previously submitted by the United Nations and raised again by Mr Guterres during his recent visit.
Focus on previous areas of agreement
Referring to the methodology proposed by the UN secretary-general, the sources said there is near convergence between the two sides on the need to reaffirm agreements already reached, without reopening issues on which common ground had previously been established.
They noted that this will become clearer once the United Nations completes its record of past agreements and circulates it to all parties involved.
According to the same sources, the Greek Cypriot side does not intend to reopen issues that have already been agreed.
Political equality and other chapters
On the issue of political equality, which the Turkish Cypriot side continues to emphasise, the sources said that if previous agreements are reaffirmed, these will include understandings relating to political equality as well as agreements reached across all other chapters of the negotiations.
These include security, guarantees, troop levels, territorial adjustments and property issues.
Timetable and next steps
With regard to the Turkish Cypriot side's request for a timetable, the same sources expressed the view that the matter has effectively already been addressed, since a process is under way with a defined sequence of steps leading to the convening of a new 5+1 expanded conference by the UN secretary-general.
Regarding the issue of pre-agreed consequences, also raised by the Turkish Cypriot side, the sources said there is scope for arrangements that could strengthen the prospects of success without creating incentives or rewards in the event that negotiations fail.
According to the sources, provided there is political will on both sides, no insurmountable obstacles are currently seen to reaching agreement on the methodology.
Contacts expected this month
The scheduling of meetings between the two negotiators is expected to be finalised with the summer holiday period in mind, although the sources said contacts are expected to begin during August.
They added that no meeting has been scheduled at this stage between President Nikos Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhürman.
As for the role of the UN secretary-general's personal envoy, María Ángela Holguín, the sources noted that she left Cyprus together with Mr Guterres. Contacts with her are continuing and preparations are expected to intensify after the summer as work advances towards the next phase of the Cyprus process.
Source: CNA
