Μake us preferred on Google The Cyprus problem has taken center stage in New York, where Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides is holding a series of diplomatic meetings on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.
Attention is now focused on a major meeting Thursday between Christodoulides and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, which is expected to clarify whether conditions exist for the resumption of substantive negotiations.
Although Guterres has already ruled out an immediate expanded meeting in a 3+1 or 5+1 format, saying that “there is still a lot of work to be done,” Nicosia is approaching the talks with specific proposals and what it describes as “new ideas.”
Seeking common ground
Before meeting Guterres, Christodoulides held an important meeting with the Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for Cyprus, Ms María Ángela Holguín.
The talks focused on the UN effort to record areas where the two sides have already reached convergence and identify the genuine “common ground” that could help move the process forward.
For the Cypriot government, the exercise is more than a technical process. It is seen as a tool for determining whether there is enough groundwork to move the Cyprus issue from exploratory contacts into a new phase of negotiations.
Diplomatic contacts in New York
Christodoulides has been holding a wider series of meetings with international figures. He has already met with British Prime Minister Andry Burnham.
The leader of the Turkish Cypriot community, Tufan Erhurman, is also in New York for meetings with UN officials.
Christodoulides has already presented Erhurman with a package of new ideas that, according to Nicosia, could produce positive results if the necessary political will is also demonstrated by the other side.
Another important meeting will be between Guterres and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. In his UN General Assembly speech on Tuesday, Erdogan called for the recognition of the Turkish occupied part of Northern Cyprus.
Limited expectations but continued efforts
Expectations remain limited because of Turkey’s established position in favor of a two-state solution. Nevertheless, the Cypriot side is seeking to use the diplomatic activity in New York to advance the process.
Nicosia’s presence at UN headquarters is aimed at maintaining international recognition and legitimacy for the Republic of Cyprus and drawing international attention to what it describes as the Turkish occupation.
The coming hours in New York will show whether the latest diplomatic effort can lay the groundwork for substantive progress or whether the Cyprus issue will once again enter an extended period of waiting.
