Christodoulides Describes Meeting With Erhürman as “Very Good and Constructive”

Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Christodoulides described his meeting with President Tufan Erhürman today as very good and constructive.

According to a report by Riknews, Christodoulides said after the meeting that dialogue would continue with the participation of Maria Angela Holguín, the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Representative on Cyprus.

Christodoulides said the two sides had therefore decided not to make further comments on certain issues and to issue a joint statement.

He also stressed that the absence of a joint statement following the meeting was not related to any deadlock in the talks and that the decision had been taken jointly.

Referring to the meetings the two leaders held with representatives of the Technical Committee on Youth, the Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage and the Steering Committee of the Civil Society Consultation Mechanism, Christodoulides said constructive dialogue had taken place and that various views and proposals had been heard. He added that these would be addressed as part of the regular meetings with President Erhürman.

STATEMENT BEFORE THE MEETING

According to the report, Christodoulides told the press as he left the Presidential Palace to attend the meeting that he would focus on three of the 19 proposals he had put forward during his talks with President Erhürman.

He said the first proposal concerned a new initiative he had submitted regarding crossing points, claiming that it was his third or fourth alternative proposal on the matter.

The Greek Cypriot leader said his second proposal concerned Varosha and direct trade, adding that accepting the proposal would benefit both sides.

Christodoulides also said he was in favour of bold confidence-building measures (CBMs) that would send strong messages to society as a whole.

He added that the third issue he would focus on was the Greek Cypriot side’s proposal concerning the methodology.