EU Representative to Visit Cyprus as Diplomatic Efforts Intensify

According to Greek Cypriot media, Fitto, who was appointed as the European Commission's special representative, is expected to arrive late Thursday night and hold meetings on Friday before departing the island later the same day.

The developments come after Guterres concluded his Cyprus visit, during which he held a trilateral meeting with President Tufan Erhürman and Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Christodoulides.

Greek Cypriot political parties AKEL, DISY and DIKO Alliance (DIPA) have welcomed the prospect of a new informal expanded 5+1 meeting, while stressing that it must not become another procedural exercise and should instead create genuine prospects for the resumption of substantive negotiations.

According to Haravgi newspaper, the parties agreed that meaningful preparations should precede any new talks.

AKEL renewed its call for a concrete roadmap. Party Secretary-General Stefanos Stefanou said Guterres had made it clear that he was prepared to explore every possibility for a new results-oriented expanded 5+1 meeting once adequate preparations had been completed.

Stefanou also argued that previous convergences should be preserved and the Guterres Framework should serve as the basis for efforts aimed at achieving a bizonal, bicommunal federation with political equality.

DISY and Greek Cypriot House President Annita Demetriou said Guterres' intention to convene a new expanded meeting after the necessary preparations keeps both the process and the prospect of resuming substantive negotiations alive.

Demetriou noted that while no concrete breakthrough had been achieved and no date had yet been set for the next expanded meeting, preserving the convergences reached so far remained essential for future progress.

DIPA also described the prospect of a new informal expanded meeting as significant, saying it should be preceded by thorough preparations based on UN Security Council resolutions, the agreed settlement framework and the negotiating achievements reached up to the 2017 Crans-Montana conference.

Greek Cypriot National Council to Meet

Greek Cypriot media also reported that the Greek Cypriot National Council is expected to convene on Monday under the chairmanship of Nikos Christodoulides.

Christodoulides is expected to brief council members on the outcome of Guterres' visit, outline the next steps in the process and discuss planning for the proposed expanded meeting, as well as the issues addressed during the Secretary-General's meetings.