The absence of any developments regarding efforts to arrange a social encounter between the leaders of the island’s two communities to discuss future moves in the Cyprus issue is attributed to the procrastination of the Turkish Cypriot leader, for a number of reasons, according to the Greek Cypriot side.

After the reflection period that followed the failed attempt to reach a Cyprus settlement at the Swiss resort of Crans Montana, last summer, a social meeting is widely expected to take place between the President of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades and the Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci, giving the opportunity to take stock of the settlement process so far and allow the two leaders to discuss future moves.

A reliable diplomatic source has told CNA that, for the time being there does not seem to be any development with regard to this gathering, recalling at the same time that President Anastasiades keeps reiterating his readiness to attend a meeting with Akinci, outside the framework of the settlement process.

The purpose of the exercise, according to the same source, is to take stock of the state of play in the Cyprus problem and outline the intentions of the two sides with regard to future moves.

The Turkish Cypriot leader, the source noted, agrees in principle with this meeting, however he disagrees with the timing and, according to the same source, “he says yes to an encounter, but in due course”.

The Greek Cypriot side believes that Akinci’s procrastination is not unrelated to the EU-Turkey meeting in Varna later this month, Turkey’s moves in Cyprus’ exclusive economic zone and other factors.

All these, in addition to other issues, seem to explain why Akinci does not see any added value in such a meeting, the diplomatic source concludes.