Guterres and Holguin Hold Phone Call

Haravgi and other newspapers carried reports on Christodoulides’ statements yesterday regarding the Cyprus problem and preparations for the UN General Assembly in New York.

Under the headline “Guterres-Holguin Phone Call on the Cyprus Problem,” Haravgi reported that Christodoulides had announced the phone conversation.

According to the report, Christodoulides said preparations were continuing with the aim of achieving an outcome during UN General Assembly week that would pave the way for the resumption of negotiations. He said they had been briefed about the phone call between Guterres and Holguin but stressed that he would not disclose the details.

Fileleftheros, under the headline “Whether There Is Hope Will Emerge in New York,” reported that Guterres would meet with all parties involved in the Cyprus problem on the sidelines of the General Assembly.

The newspaper said it was expected to become clearer after these contacts how the Cyprus problem would move forward and what steps the UN would take, while also claiming that expectations remained low.

Politis ran its report under the headline “Growing Pressure on Leaders to Make Progress,” reporting that the two negotiators had met yesterday to prepare for Thursday’s leaders’ meeting.

The newspaper said Thursday’s meeting between the leaders would be decisive in determining developments in New York.

Recalling that Holguin’s planned visit to Cyprus had been postponed due to health reasons, the newspaper reported, citing information it had obtained, that Holguin would travel to New York and remain there from September 22 to 28 as part of the UN General Assembly High-Level Week.

The newspaper also stressed that it was not yet clear whether Holguin would meet the leaders separately or jointly, or whether Guterres would call for a trilateral meeting. It added that the UN was also continuing work on a joint understanding document.

Politis said the document should not be regarded as a negotiation achievement and was not expected to resolve the issue of methodology, which would need to be agreed upon beforehand. It stressed that Cyprus settlement negotiations were based on the principle that “nothing is agreed until everything is agreed.”

Alithia, meanwhile, ran its report under the headline “Selling Hope Again,” commenting on Christodoulides’ statements yesterday.

The newspaper argued that by referring to “intensive preparations” and the goal of announcing the resumption of negotiations in New York, Christodoulides was creating the impression that the sides were ready to take the next major step and that the resumption of talks could be announced during UN General Assembly week, despite there being no actual progress.

The report also claimed that, contrary to Christodoulides’ statements, “no progress has been made on methodology, substance or CBMs.”