UN Preparing Document Recording Convergences Reached in Cyprus Talks

According to the reports, the document will form part of the preparatory process for a new enlarged 5+1 meeting and will eventually be presented to the two sides for their assessment.

According to Fileleftheros, a group headed by Dr. McGarry is working on compiling the convergences reached during previous rounds of negotiations in an effort to safeguard the negotiating achievements.

The newspaper reported that the team includes individuals who have previously been involved in the Cyprus issue on behalf of the United Nations.

According to the report, the UN believes recording the convergences will significantly facilitate progress in the process. Once completed, the document will also be reviewed by a European Union team to assess its compatibility with the EU acquis before being presented to President Tufan Erhürman and Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Christodoulides.

Meanwhile, Politis, citing a source "close to the negotiations", reported that the UN is preparing a document as part of the "appropriate preparations" required for the enlarged 5+1 meeting that UN Secretary-General António Guterres has decided to convene, although no date has yet been set.

The report said the document will include the convergences achieved so far, while both the Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot sides will be able to submit their views on the recorded convergences.

According to the newspaper, this procedure could address the concerns of both sides, citing President Erhürman's emphasis on political equality and the Greek Cypriot side's insistence that substantive issues, including security and guarantees, be included in the preparatory work.

The report further claimed that such a process could be sufficient to pave the way for a new 5+1 meeting, independently of Erhürman's proposals on confidence-building measures.

Politis also wrote that the Secretary-General has, in effect, already mapped out the next steps, suggesting that, although unofficial, an informal timetable is beginning to take shape.

The newspaper added that the remaining challenge would be securing confirmation from the Turkish Cypriot side that, if a new negotiating process were to begin but ultimately fail, the current status quo would not simply be restored, describing this as a major obstacle before formal negotiations could resume.