UN Spokesperson in Cyprus, Aleem Siddique, confirmed on Friday that a meeting between Greek Cypriot leader, Nikos Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar will take place on Monday, 20th January at the Chief of Mission’s Residence in Nicosia UN controlled buffer zone.
He also informed reporters that Colin Stewart, Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) in Cyprus and Head of the UN peacekeeping force on the island (UNFICYP), is in touch with both sides from New York.
Stewart is at the UN headquarters ahead of the renewal of the UNFICYP mandate later this month.
On October 15, 2024, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres hosted an informal dinner with Christodoulides and Tatar in New York, encouraging “the leaders to consider how to bridge the gap in their positions and rebuild trust to allow movement leading to a settlement.”
At the meeting, Christodoulides and Tatar agreed to have an informal meeting in a broader format in the near future, under the auspices of the Secretary-General, to discuss the way forward. They also agreed to have a meeting in Cyprus to explore the possibility of opening new crossings.
( Source: CNA)
