At some stage a meeting with the participation of the guarantor countries will take place, Special Adviser of the UN Secretary General Espen Barth Eide has stated.

Speaking after a meeting with President Anastasiades, Eide said that the most issues of the Cyprus problem are for the Cypriots to decide but there are some issues with international nature that requires the involvement of the three guarantors.

“Tonight we have a leaders` meeting between Anastasiades and Akinci and another on Sunday, which will be the last one this year. We are moving forward on many issues and it is very convenient and practical for me to have these meetings with the leaders just before the leaders` meeting”, he said.

Eide stated that he informed President Anastasiades about his meetings in Ankara, which as he noted, were very constructive. He said that he had deep and good conversations and that it is part of our preparation for the very final phase, “which we don’t know when will happen but will happen someday and where the guarantor countries also need to be involved. So, there is serious engagement also from Turkey as well as from the other guarantor countries”, he added.

Eide clarified that the issue of guarantees is not on today`s agenda and expressed hope that there will soon be a final agreement on the property issue. However, he said, nothing will be final before we are at the end.

Asked if there will be a five part meeting at the final phase, Eide said that at some stage that will part of the process, because it is clear that we need the guarantors to deal with specific issues that pertain to them. “Most issues that we are discussing are for the Cypriots to decide, the Greek Cypriots and the Turkish Cypriots through their leaders, but there are some issues with international nature and of course we cannot have a final settlement before they are involved in some form”, he added.

Eide stated however that when this will happen depends on the progress on other fronts and stressed that it is genuinely true that we do not have a time-line. “But there is also an understanding that we have to use our time properly and as the leaders said some meetings ago, they are increasingly confident and hopeful that a solution can be found in the near future and I agree with that”, he said.

Asked if he has any indications that Ankara is planning to change its position on the issue of guarantees, Eide said that he had good conversations with the Prime Minister and other officials in Ankara about this and other issues. “I feel that all guarantors, including Turkey, is looking forward to being able to see that this conflict is finally solved and they all know that they have to do their part for getting there”, he said.

Replying to a question about the forthcoming meetings of the two leaders he said that this is actually a topic of the discussions for today and Sunday. “So, when it comes to schedule that will be announced by the leaders, probably on Sunday or immediately after Sunday. What is clear is that we will use January actively”, he concluded.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. UN-led peace talks are currently underway between Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci.