The UN has not sent any formal letter of invitation to participants that will attend the meetings, to be held in Geneva early next year concerning a Cyprus settlement, but participants “are very much aware of the fact”, Special Adviser of the UN Secretary-General on Cyprus, Espen Barth Eide, said on Wednesday.

Speaking after a meeting with President of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades, in Nicosia, Eide was asked about the Geneva participants and said that “there is no doubt in their mind” concerning their attendance. According to the UN official, attendants include “obviously the guarantor powers and the EU”. Concerning other participants that may be invited as needed, Eide said that this still needs to be discussed.

Eide also said he encouraged the leadership in Greece and Turkey to prepare a meeting before Geneva, although he said there was no definite date. “I guess [this] will be immediately after New Year, but I have no date to announce and anyway its up to them to make that announcement” he noted.

The UN official, who also met earlier on Thursday with the Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci, said both meetings were “constructive and substantial” and were in preparation for tomorrow`s meeting between the leaders, “the last one before Christmas”.

He added that on Thursday, leaders are expected to discuss developments since the December 1st dinner, however, the focus will be on preparations for the meetings, starting on January 9, 2017 with the two Cypriot sides and then proceeding with an international conference on January 12.

Concerning the participants he said that “we`ve been in touch with them without actually having sent a formal letter of invitation”. He clarified that his reference was in relation to the statement made by the leaders on December 1st, “which is the format which they have agreed upon”.

Asked if the UN is going to send invitation letters to the EU or the members of the Security Council, Eide replied that “I don`t want to say much more about that”. The people who will definitely be in the conference are well aware of it and well into preparations, he added.

According to Eide, preparations are underway, although some issues need to be agreed upon. “Both sides are working very hard to make the best of their time, in order to get sure that we get the maximum effect out of these meetings in Geneva” he noted.

Moreover, he said that it is important to a see a meeting between Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and the President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. “Some dialogue between key players also outside Cyprus has to happen” he said, adding that that a meeting needs to take place before Geneva. “I am strongly encouraging them that this happens before Geneva” said Eide.

Although there is no date yet, the Greek and Turkish governments are in contact over the matter, according to the UN official.

Eide said finally that he also keeps the Secretary-General-designate, António Guterres, closely involved, since he will be at the UN helm at the time of the conference.

The meeting at the Presidential Palace was also attended by UNSG Special Representative in Cyprus Elisabeth Spehar, Government Spokesman Nicos Christodoulides and Deputy Government Spokesman Victoras Papadopoulos.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37% of its territory. President Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci have been engaged in UN-led talks since May 2015 with a view to reunite the island under a federal roof.

Anastasiades and Akinci decided on December 1 to meet in Geneva on January 9, 10 and 11, 2017. On the 12th of January the Conference of Cyprus will begin in Geneva.