The longstanding Cyprus issue was discussed in Geneva on Monday and Tuesday as UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres hosted informal talks with Cyprus’s President Nikos Christodoulides, Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar, and representatives of the guarantor powers Greece, Turkey, and the UK.
The discussions did not lead to a resolution of the Cyprus issue. However, the participants agreed on a set of confidence-building measures and decided to continue the talks in the summer.
After eight years of deadlock, this was the best possible outcome, analysts say. After the meeting on Tuesday afternoon, Guterres commented: “It is important to note that even before Crans Montana, and we are talking about 2017 until now, there was no real progress on any aspect and today there was meaningful progress.” The bar had not been placed very high, but even a little progress, after eight years of none, is something.
Guterres said “meaningful progress” had been achieved in Geneva and that the talks had been conducted in a “new atmosphere” with a “sense of urgency” demonstrated by all sides.
Christodoulides said he wished to “express satisfaction” with the result of the meeting, describing it as “a first important, positive step towards the resumption of talks”.
“This is the big goal, we are not there yet, but, as [Guterres] himself said, it has been an important step,” he said. He added that the “great effort is of course not complete today” and that it only constitutes the start, saying his government “has a plan for how we will continue this course”.
Earlier, Tatar had given a brief press conference, stressing the importance of “resolving the problems experienced in relations between the two communities and establishing a culture of cooperation”.
“Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots deserve much better. We must find a sustainable solution for both our children and future generations,” he said.
Six confidence-building measures agreed at the Cyprus talks
Six confidence-building measures were agreed in Geneva. There will be the opening of four crossing points, with each side proposing two, demining, the establishment of a technical committee on youth, initiatives on the environment and climate change, photovoltaics in the buffer zone and restoration of cemeteries.
Greece’s foreign minister said Tuesday that it is important to maintain dialogue.
“The discussions focused on issues included in the confidence-building measures between the parties, such as demining, environmental protection, youth, and the restoration of cemeteries,” said George Gerapetritis, speaking to the press following the talks.
He said the appointment of a personal envoy on behalf of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to oversee the next steps of the discussions was also decided during the talks.
Informal meetings will continue both bilaterally and in the broad format, said Gerapetritis, adding the next round of talks is expected to take place in July.
“We understand that even though the position of the Turkish Cypriot side deviates from the framework set by the UN Security Council resolutions, it is extremely important to maintain dialogue in order to build trust,” he added.
“It is extremely important that at the moment the Cyprus issue is at the top of the UN agenda. There will be a continuation of the informal meetings, both bilaterally and in the format of the Quintet,” he said, noting that there will be a new Quintet meeting at the end of July.