Christodoulides says new Cyprus talks ideas could bring results

President Nikos Christodoulides said on Thursday that new proposals put forward by the Greek Cypriot side during his latest meeting with Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman could lead to “positive developments”, as reported by Cyprus Mail.

Speaking to reporters at the presidential palace after the meeting, Christodoulides said the two leaders were not on the same page, but described the encounter as good. He said he raised new points covering confidence building measures, methodology and substance, and that Erhurman reserved the right to study the proposals.

Christodoulides said there was no negative reaction and that he provided further clarifications where requested. He intends to present the ideas, along with other measures prepared by his side, to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Under Secretary General for Political Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo during meetings in New York.

“I believe these proposals and ideas can lead us to positive developments as soon as possible,” he said. Pressed on the content, he declined to elaborate, saying he wished to brief the Secretary-General first and await the Turkish Cypriot leader’s final position.

Asked whether developments could come as early as next week, he said this would depend on the positions eventually taken. He confirmed that some ideas were “entirely new” rather than amendments to existing proposals, and that the issue of convergences was discussed. He also said the Greek Cypriot side had set aside topics where the two parties hold entrenched differing views, adding: “We want results.”

Christodoulides declined to confirm or deny whether new crossing points were proposed, and said any decision on a trilateral meeting with Guterres rests with the Secretary-General. His comments followed Guterres’ announcement that no 3+1 or 5+1 meeting on the Cyprus problem would take place on the sidelines of the General Assembly.