Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides has proposed specific dates in January 2025 for a meeting with Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar to discuss the opening of new crossing points, Government Spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis told the Cyprus News Agency (CNA) on Saturday. He added that an official response is awaited to confirm the meeting.
Responding to comments by Tatar that the meeting with Christodoulides could take place on January 20-21, 2025, with a broader meeting for Cyprus problem planned for March, Letymbiotis said that “the President of the Republic, as he has publicly stated, has proposed specific dates in January 2025 for a meeting with Ersin Tatar to discuss the opening of new crossing points, as agreed during the October 15, 2024, dinner hosted by the UN Secretary-General.”
“We are awaiting the official response for the meeting to take place. Moreover, we have already submitted concrete proposals during the preparatory phase,” Letymbiotis further noted
He emphasized that the government remains committed to the effort for resumption of negotiations under the United Nations framework and in accordance with relevant UN Security Council resolutions.
“We are also awaiting official confirmation of UN Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo’s visit to the region as part of preparations for convening a multilateral conference,” Letymbiotis added. The aim of the conference is to explore the possibility of restarting negotiations from where they were interrupted, always within the agreed framework.
Letymbiotis reiterated that the only acceptable basis for resolving the Cyprus problem is a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation, as outlined in UN Security Council resolutions and aligned with the principles and values of the European Union, of which Cyprus is a full member.
“The Republic of Cyprus remains fully committed to achieving a final resolution of the Cyprus problem,” he said, stressing that “all efforts must focus on restarting meaningful and constructive dialogue aimed at a sustainable and comprehensive settlement for the benefit of all lawful residents of Cyprus.”
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively.
