The next meeting between the two leaders has been scheduled for 2 September, Government Spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis said on Thursday, while also announcing the Greek Cypriot members of the Steering Committee of the Civil Society Consultative Body.
Speaking during a press briefing at the Presidential Palace, the Spokesperson announced that the next meeting between the two leaders had been scheduled for 2 September at 3pm.
He also announced the members of the Greek Cypriot side on the Steering Committee of the Civil Society Consultative Body, namely Pantelis Poetis, Alexandros Lordos, Amalia Avraam, Sophia Papamichalopoulos and Marios Michaelides. He said that the creation of this body had also been one of the wishes of the UN Secretary-General, and that, alongside the permanent members, it would additionally comprise 50 people from each community who would discuss issues relating to everyday life, with the participants changing depending on the issue under discussion.
“The Advisory Body can serve as an additional channel of communication and constructive contribution by civil society to the effort currently under way,” he said.
Letymbiotis said that Wednesday’s meeting between President Nikos Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhürman “had a positive outcome and, above all, gave greater stability and momentum to the continuation of the effort”.
He noted that it had been a lengthy meeting, with substantive discussions on methodology, confidence-building measures (CBMs), and preparations for the next steps towards convening a broader format meeting, as the UN Secretary-General has set out.
Of particular importance, he said, was the decision by the two leaders to meet at least once a week, and more frequently if circumstances require.
The Spokesperson said that the next meeting had been scheduled for 2 September at 15.00. “This means that the dialogue is gaining continuity and a steady rhythm. Issues will be brought back to the table promptly, systematic work will be carried out, and the momentum that has already been created will be maintained,” he said.
He stressed that this activity had not arisen by itself, but was the result of mobilisation by the United Nations and the Secretary-General himself and his Personal Envoy, “as well as the steady, persistent and intensive effort we have been making throughout this period, through our pursuit of greater UN and EU involvement, our continuous international and European contacts, and our consistent position in favour of resuming substantive negotiations from where they left off”.
“Our intention is clear. We will continue intensively, constructively and with a focus on substance, making use of every opportunity that can bring us closer to the resumption of negotiations,” he added.
He also noted that the G/c side’s approach was “optimistic, but realistic”. “We do not underestimate the difficulties and we do not take outcomes for granted. We know, however, that after a long period of stagnation, there is once again more frequent contact, more substantive discussion and specific next steps,” he said, stressing that the aim was, and remains, for this momentum to acquire continuity, substance and results.
At the same time, he said, “we do not lose sight of the broader dimension of the Cyprus problem”. Noting that progress at the level of the two leaders was “necessary”, he said that, to achieve substantive progress, “the stance, will and contribution of the guarantor powers, and particularly Turkey, remain decisive”.
