GC Media: Guterres Has Begun Informal Cyprus Conference Effort

The reports came as UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix visited Pyla and held meetings with Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Christodoulides, developments that received wide coverage in the Greek Cypriot press.

According to Fileleftheros, Guterres began preparations for a new informal conference in May following his meetings in Ankara with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and in Brussels with Christodoulides.

The newspaper claimed that President Tufan Erhürman’s earlier reference to a possible initiative by Guterres in July reflected a lack of awareness of the UN chief’s intentions, arguing that Guterres had already started moving forward after his talks with the Turkish leadership.

Lacroix Visit to Pyla and Christodoulides Meeting

The newspaper said Lacroix’s visit to Pyla and his subsequent meeting with Christodoulides focused both on developments in the village and on the Cyprus issue, including Guterres’ intention to restart efforts on negotiations.

Before meeting Christodoulides, Lacroix reportedly visited Pyla to assess the situation on the ground.

After the meeting, Lacroix described it as “very useful and constructive,” saying they had discussed the current state of affairs within the framework of the negotiation process.

He stressed Guterres’ strong commitment to the Cyprus issue and said the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) was working to ensure that nothing disrupted the negotiation process.

Lacroix also said he had briefed Christodoulides on his Pyla visit and noted that the situation appeared to be moving toward de-escalation, adding that efforts would continue to maintain calm.

He argued that recent incidents once again demonstrated the importance of UNFICYP’s role and the need for a neutral force in the buffer zone.

Christodoulides, according to the report, emphasised the importance of UNFICYP at a time when he claimed there had been increased violations by “Turkish occupation forces,” and expressed satisfaction with Guterres’ continued engagement.

He also said developments on the ground remained a concern and that suitable conditions were needed for the resumption of negotiations.

Meeting With Erhürman Also Covered

The newspaper also referred to Lacroix’s meeting with President Tufan Erhürman and included his post-meeting remarks.

Meanwhile, Politis reported that Lacroix had conducted an aerial inspection of the buffer zone by UN helicopter before visiting Pyla and meeting with UNFICYP personnel responsible for the eastern sector of the buffer zone.

UNFICYP later stated on social media that it would continue working impartially with both sides to preserve the status quo in the buffer zone and avoid tensions.

Greek Cypriot Government Spokesman: Negotiators to Meet

Greek Cypriot government spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis also commented on the Lacroix-Christodoulides meeting, announcing that negotiators from both sides would meet on Wednesday.

He said no date had yet been set for the next leaders’ meeting, while recalling that the two leaders last met on 6 April and had agreed to meet again later this month to announce more concrete developments.