A trilateral meeting on the Cyprus problem is being considered by UN Secretary-General António Guterres, President of the Republic Nikos Christodoulides said on Thursday after meeting him in New York, stressing that a response from the other side is also required. The President said the 19 new ideas submitted by the Greek Cypriot side had been received very positively.
Trilateral meeting under consideration
Asked whether a trilateral meeting was being considered, Mr Christodoulides said it was indeed in the Secretary-General's thoughts and that Mr Guterres would inform him accordingly.
"You understand that there must also be a response from the other side," he said.
He added that he had told the Secretary-General he was ready to extend his stay in New York if Mr Guterres considered it necessary, so that a joint meeting could take place.
New ideas on substance, methodology and confidence-building measures
Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Mr Christodoulides expressed satisfaction with the talks. He said the new ideas submitted on substance, methodology and confidence-building measures had been received by the Secretary-General with "a very positive sign".
Asked to outline any of the 19 new ideas, he said he did not wish to refer to them publicly, but expressed satisfaction at how they had been received.
Role of the European Union
"I am pleased because the strategy we set for a more active involvement of the EU is key to this major effort, and as the UN Secretary-General informed me, he discussed the Cyprus problem in detail with the President of the European Commission and the President of the European Council," Mr Christodoulides said.
Joint meeting of the negotiators
The President said a joint meeting of the two negotiators with the UN Deputy Secretary-General and María Ángela Holguín, the Secretary-General's Personal Envoy on Cyprus, would take place on the same day.
Aim to resume negotiations before Guterres' term ends
Mr Christodoulides thanked Mr Guterres for his strong commitment to achieving developments aimed at resuming negotiations before the end of his term.
"And I believe, on the basis of what I have heard and what we have discussed, that yes, it is an achievable development if there is political will," he said, adding that the Secretary-General is working in that direction.
"Let us give space to diplomacy in the coming hours, in the coming days, to see whether specific developments emerge," he said.
He added he was certain that the Secretary-General is doing everything possible to convene an enlarged conference that would lead to the resumption of talks.
Briefing on meeting with Turkish President
Asked whether he had been briefed on Mr Guterres' meeting with the Turkish President, Mr Christodoulides said the Secretary-General had indeed briefed him and that their discussion began from there.
Convergence document in final form
Asked about the document of convergences, the President said it was in its final form and formed part of the broader discussions they had held.
