Menelau: Efforts to Resume Negotiations Must Be Stepped Up

Greek Cypriot negotiator Menelaos Menelau said efforts to resume negotiations on the Cyprus issue needed to be stepped up.

According to Haravgi, Menelau told Astra radio yesterday that the aim was to advance preliminary work on substantive issues, methodology and confidence-building measures (CBMs) in order to resume negotiations and create the conditions for a new expanded meeting.

Menelau also said the United Nations had completed recording the areas of agreement on the Cyprus issue, but the document had not been submitted to the parties involved because not all sides had approved it.

He said political equality and rotating presidency were included in the record, alongside areas of agreement on security, guarantees, territory and property. Menelau argued that a comprehensive confirmation of the gains achieved in negotiations was necessary, rather than a selective approach.

He also claimed that the fact that Christodoulides’ 19 proposals had not been submitted in writing did not change their official status.

Regarding the proposed crossing points at Athienou–Pyroi–Eğlence and Mia Milia (Haspolat), Menelau claimed that the Greek Cypriot side had accepted the UN Secretary-General’s proposal, but that the Turkish Cypriot side had rejected it.

He said efforts would be intensified with the arrival of UN Secretary-General’s Personal Representative for Cyprus Maria Angela Holguín.

Menelau added that the two leaders were expected to meet before Holguín’s arrival, stressing that the priority was to exhaust every available avenue to achieve substantive progress on the Cyprus issue.

Meanwhile, according to Fileleftheros, Menelau said during an appearance on the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation (RIK) yesterday that significant steps had been taken on the Cyprus issue despite the obstacles.

He also confirmed that Christodoulides’ meeting with Holguín had been scheduled for October 30.