LEFKOSIA – [File Photo: GANP / Dimitrios Panagos]
Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides stressed on May 28 that there is a “window of opportunity” for the Cyprus issue ahead of the completion of UN Secretary‑General’s term by the end of the year, adding that “an effort is underway as a first step toward the resumption of negotiations that will lead to a final outcome,” while noting that “we cannot discuss indefinitely”.
Speaking to journalists after his meeting with India’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, at the Presidential Palace, and asked about the upcoming visit of the UN Secretary‑General’s personal envoy to Cyprus, President Christodoulides said that “consultations and preparations have been underway for quite some time. Ms. Holguín is coming to continue and further strengthen them, but the effort has already been in progress for a while, with meetings and contacts away from the spotlight, so that the conditions can be created to achieve the goal of resuming negotiations”.
“And I truly hope,” he continued, “that we will reach this goal. The Secretary‑General is fully committed. He himself has personally engaged in this major effort, and we hope there will be positive results”.
Asked whether there is any solution plan, President Christodoulides noted that “an effort is being made as a first step toward the resumption of negotiations that will lead to a final outcome. We cannot discuss indefinitely. There is this window of opportunity, which essentially coincides with the end of the Secretary‑General’s term, by the end of the year, and we genuinely want more than anyone else to reach a positive outcome”.
It is noted that UN Secretary‑General’s personal envoy, Maria Angela Holguín will arrive in Cyprus on the afternoon of Saturday, June 6, and will meet separately with the two leaders on Monday, June 8. According to information from CNA, Holguín will discuss with both sides “both the substance and Confidence‑Building Measures”.
After Cyprus, the UN envoy is expected to travel to Greece and Turkey.
