Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Hristodulidis described his meeting with President Tufan Erhürman today as 'very good and constructive,' saying the dialogue between the two sides will continue with the involvement of Maria Angela Holguin, the UN Secretary-General's Personal Representative for Cyprus.
Hristodulidis explained that both sides agreed not to make detailed public statements on specific issues and not to issue a joint communiqué. He stressed that the absence of a joint statement did not reflect any deadlock in the talks, but was a mutual decision by both leaders.
Before departing the presidential palace for the meeting, Hristodulidis told reporters he intended to focus on three of the 19 proposals he had put on the table. The first concerned a new proposal on crossing points, which he described as the third or fourth alternative he had submitted on that issue. The second related to the closed city of Varosha and direct trade, with Hristodulidis arguing that its acceptance would be beneficial for both communities. The third proposal concerned the Greek Cypriot side's methodological approach to a settlement.
Hristodulidis also referred to meetings held with representatives of the Youth Technical Committee, the Cultural Heritage Technical Committee, and the Steering Committee of the Civil Society Consultation Mechanism. He said constructive exchanges took place and that the views and suggestions heard would be addressed within the framework of regular meetings with President Erhürman. The Greek Cypriot leader also expressed a positive stance toward bold Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) that would send strong signals to both communities.
