New York Set to Shape Next Phase of Cyprus Talks

The meeting between President Tufan Erhürman and Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Christodoulides, held yesterday, and the statements made afterward received extensive coverage in the Greek Cypriot press, while Christodoulides’ programme of meetings in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly was also announced.

Fileleftheros led with the headlines “Next Step Remains Unclear – Going to UN Secretary-General With Ideas – Will Meet Holguin First, Then UN Secretary-General,” reporting that Christodoulides had presented a number of ideas during yesterday’s meeting.

The newspaper said the Greek Cypriot side’s primary objective was to restart settlement negotiations and that Christodoulides would present his proposals on how to move the process forward to the UN Secretary-General. It noted that his first discussion on the proposals had taken place with Erhürman yesterday.

The newspaper said acceptance of the proposals by the Turkish Cypriot side would give momentum to the process, while noting that approval by Erhürman alone would not be sufficient and that Turkey’s approval would also be required.

According to the report, Christodoulides described yesterday’s meeting as a “good meeting.”

In his remarks, Christodoulides said he had presented “some new ideas on three issues and on confidence-building measures (CBMs),” while Erhürman had not rejected the proposals and had said he would consider them.

Christodoulides said further clarification had been requested on some of the proposals and that he had provided it. He added that he would raise all the proposals, along with several other elements, during his meetings with UN Secretary-General António Guterres and the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Representative for Cyprus, Maria Angela Holguin.

Asked to provide more details about his proposals, Christodoulides said he first wanted to brief Guterres and Holguin.

“I genuinely believe that these new ideas on these three issues will lead us to positive developments,” Christodoulides said.

The report also briefly covered Erhürman’s remarks.

HOLGUIN FIRST, THEN GUTERRES

In another report, the newspaper said Christodoulides would travel to New York on September 20 and hold his first meeting with Holguin on Tuesday evening local time.

According to the newspaper, Christodoulides will address the UN General Assembly around midday on Wednesday local time and meet with Guterres on Thursday morning.

Later that day, he will host the permanent representatives of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council for lunch. Christodoulides will also meet with executives from Chevron and ExxonMobil in New York.

KONSTANTINOS KOMPOS’ CONTACTS

The newspaper also reported that Greek Cypriot Foreign Minister Konstantinos Kombos would hold meetings in New York with his counterparts from 35 UN member states.

It said Kombos’ meetings were part of geopolitical planning and that he would meet representatives of Organisation of Islamic Cooperation member states and what it described as “Turkic countries” in Central Asia, as well as senior representatives of small EU member states.

According to the report, Kombos will also hold trilateral meetings with Egypt and Jordan, and attend a meeting of the EU Informal Foreign Affairs Council with representatives from Asian countries, as well as a ministerial meeting on the Middle East hosted by the Qatari foreign minister.

The newspaper also provided details of Kombos’ other planned meetings.

CONTACTS OVER NEW SECRETARY-GENERAL

The newspaper reported that the Greek Cypriot government was continuing its contacts with candidates for the UN secretary-general post as Guterres’ term draws to an end.

According to the report, meetings could be held in New York with both two candidates with whom contacts had already been established and other candidates who have not yet been approached.

Politis, meanwhile, ran its report under the headlines “Heading to New York With Empty Suitcases Despite Guterres’ Warning That Much Remains to Be Done – To New York With Gaps and No Progress.”

The newspaper commented that the two leaders would be travelling to New York without having achieved significant progress, and went on to report their statements in detail.

Politis said Christodoulides would travel to New York on Saturday.

OTHER HEADLINES IN THE GREEK CYPRIOT PRESS

Other newspapers covered the issue under the following headlines:

Alithia: “Christodoulides Presents Proposals”

Haravgi: “CBMs, Methodology and Substance at the Centre of Christodoulides-Erhürman Meeting”