Two New Crossing Points Agreed After Critical Meeting

A joint statement was issued following the trilateral meeting between President Tufan Erhürman and Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Christodoulides, hosted by UN Secretary-General’s Personal Representative for Cyprus Maria Angela Holguin. The statement announced an agreement to open the Akıncılar–Limya and Kambo–Gemikonağı crossing points simultaneously.

The UN statement said the two leaders had held a positive meeting under the auspices of the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Representative, Maria Angela Holguin, in the United Nations buffer zone.

Following the three-hour meeting between Erhürman and Christodoulides, the joint statement confirmed that an agreement had been reached on opening two new crossing points.

TWO CROSSING POINTS TO OPEN AT AKINCILAR AND GEMİKONAĞI

The statement said the leaders had continued discussions on confidence-building measures, methodology and substantive issues.

According to the joint statement, the leaders agreed to open the Akıncılar–Limya and Kambo–Gemikonağı crossing points. It was stated that the two crossings would open simultaneously.

ARCHIVE DOCUMENTS TO BE SHARED, ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECTS TO BE ADVANCED

The two leaders also agreed to continue sharing archival materials through the Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage.

They further agreed to advance environmental projects to be implemented by the Technical Committee on the Environment.

IMAGINE PROJECT TO RESTART

The statement said an agreement had also been reached to restart the Imagine Project under the auspices of the Technical Committee on Education and within the framework set by the committee.

RAPID RESPONSE MECHANISM TO BE ESTABLISHED FOR EMERGENCIES

The leaders will instruct the Technical Committee on Crisis Management to establish a mechanism enabling a rapid response to emergencies, the statement said.

RESTORATION OF MARONITE CHURCHES AND ARMENIAN MONASTERY TO CONTINUE

The Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage will continue its work on the restoration of certain Maronite churches and an Armenian monastery, alongside its other activities.

OTHER CROSSING POINTS ALSO ON THE AGENDA

The joint statement said the leaders had also discussed the opening of other crossing points and related outstanding issues.

Discussions on these matters, as well as on methodology and substantive issues, will continue in the coming period. They will also be addressed at the trilateral meeting with the UN Secretary-General scheduled to take place in the coming weeks, the statement added.

The leaders had been welcomed upon arrival by Holguin and Khassim Diagne, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative in Cyprus and Head of the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP).

Erhürman was accompanied by Presidential Undersecretary Mehmet Dânâ, while Greek Cypriot negotiator Menelaos Menelaou accompanied Christodoulides.

Holguin, who arrived at the residence before the leaders, responded positively when a journalist asked whether she was optimistic. Diagne also greeted members of the press.

Erhürman and Christodoulides last held a face-to-face meeting on October 27. In preparation for the trilateral meeting, Holguin had also held two separate meetings with each leader during the week.