The Greek Cypriot newspaper Phileleftheros has claimed that convening an informal five-party conference on the Cyprus problem depends largely on the opening of new crossing points, adding that the United Nations shares this assessment.
In a report headlined "Informal five-party conference on the Cyprus problem goes through the opening of crossing points", the paper argued that despite the prevailing pessimism, the issue will prove decisive in the coming weeks.
According to the newspaper, the Greek Cypriot side is aware that the conference largely hinges on the crossings. It therefore claimed that the Greek Cypriot side is trying to facilitate talks through various ideas and alternative moves, without altering the UN Secretary-General's proposal on the Mia Milia (Haspolat) and Athienou-Pyroi (Kiracıköy-Gaziler) crossings. The Turkish Cypriot side, the paper said, has so far shown no sign of shifting its position.
The report recalled that Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Christodoulides had submitted 19 proposals aimed at launching a dialogue that could lead to a resumption of negotiations, claiming that the Turkish side showed no willingness to discuss them. It also wrote that Christodoulides' proposal concerning Varosha had been rejected.
Phileleftheros noted that the process is expected to gain momentum with the arrival on the island in the coming days of the UN Secretary-General's Personal Envoy on Cyprus, María Ángela Holguín, though no extraordinary results are anticipated.
