The ongoing United Nations-led effort on the Cyprus issue is centred on documenting and updating convergences reached up to the Crans-Montana talks, rather than seeking new areas of agreement, according to Greek Cypriot negotiator Menelaos Menelaou.
Speaking to Politis Radio 107.6 and 97.6 on the programme Second Look, Mr Menelaou said the objective is to update material already recorded in UN archives and use it as a basis for convening a new expanded conference that could lead to decisions on restarting formal negotiations.
"This concerns the updating of what has already been recorded and what is already included in United Nations archives," he said.
Mr Menelaou stressed that the process does not constitute a new negotiation but rather an effort to accurately reflect convergences achieved during previous rounds of talks.
He noted that these convergences are already documented in UN records and in the various texts produced during negotiations over the years.
Existing record seen as advantage
According to the Greek Cypriot negotiator, the existence of extensive recorded material allows the process to move relatively quickly.
He said the decisive factor will be whether all parties demonstrate the necessary political will for the exercise to culminate in a new expanded meeting and a decision to resume negotiations.
Referring to procedural proposals submitted by the Turkish Cypriot side, Mr Menelaou described as positive one proposal that explicitly refers to preserving previously achieved convergences, avoiding their renegotiation and focusing instead on issues that remain unresolved.
"If this is confirmed in practice as well, we believe it could create a genuine prospect for progress," he said.
Importance of Guterres' position
Mr Menelaou attached particular significance to the stance of UN Secretary-General António Guterres, saying he believes there is a strong personal commitment by the UN chief to advance the Cyprus issue during the final phase of his tenure.
He also highlighted the statement issued following Mr Guterres' contacts on Cyprus, noting that it referred both to preserving convergences and to the established UN parameters for a settlement.
According to Mr Menelaou, this constitutes a clear signal in support of the agreed framework for a solution and the preservation of progress achieved in negotiations to date.
At the same time, he cautioned that it remains unclear how the Turkish side will act in practice in the coming period.
"Conclusions will be drawn from actions, not from statements," he said.
Proposal dates back to January
Mr Menelaou revealed that the idea of a UN-led recording of convergences is not new.
According to him, the proposal was first raised by the Greek Cypriot side in January during a meeting between the two leaders attended by the UN Secretary-General's Personal Envoy, María Ángela Holguín.
For that reason, he said, the Greek Cypriot side is particularly satisfied that the proposal is now moving forward.
Confidence-building measures
Mr Menelaou also addressed confidence-building measures and disputes over responsibility for the failure to implement specific initiatives.
"That does not interest us and it is not going to offer us anything," he said.
He added that the priority is to continue efforts and demonstrate the political will necessary to keep the process moving forward.
Closer to or further from Crans-Montana?
Asked whether the two sides are today closer to or further away from where negotiations stood at Crans-Montana in 2017, Mr Menelaou noted that nine years have passed since then.
He said the answer depends largely on the approach adopted by the Turkish Cypriot and Turkish sides once the process of recording convergences is completed.
According to Mr Menelaou, if the prevailing approach is to reaffirm the understandings reached by the end of the Crans-Montana process, a substantial part of the distance between the two sides would already have been bridged.
Ready for further meetings
Looking ahead, the Greek Cypriot negotiator said his side is prepared for further meetings whenever necessary.
He noted that contacts are already under way with the Turkish Cypriot side to arrange the next meeting between the two leaders.
"This is not a competition over who is more willing or who wants more meetings," he said.
"What matters is that contacts are accompanied by political will and flexibility so that they produce results."
'We will exhaust every possibility'
Asked whether a new expanded conference is ultimately likely, Mr Menelaou said the Greek Cypriot side will continue doing everything within its power to advance the process.
He nevertheless identified Turkey's continued advocacy of a two-state solution as the principal obstacle.
Despite that challenge, he said efforts would continue.
"We will exhaust every possibility to move the process forward," he said.
