Without substantial progress on the key issues, however, the prospect of positive developments on the ground was erased. Christodoulidis-Tatar agreed, on the one hand, to meet informally, under the auspices of the general secretary, to discuss the next steps, and, on the other hand, to meet face-to-face, without mediators, in Cyprus, to open new barriers between free and occupied areas, especially in Mia Milia. Tatar mentioned the latter in a Turkish Cypriot Media before moving to New York.
The start of the new phase – which according to Mr. Christodoulidis “has no milestones and timetables” – is also marked by the change of the United Nations mediator in the process. Mr. Guterres thanked his personal envoy for the Cyprus issue, Mary Holguin-Quéillardnoting that, despite six months of efforts, her mission did not succeed in bridging the differences to resume talks.
According to all indications, Mr Guterres is leaning towards handing over the role of preparing the new informal expanded talks to the UN assistant secretary-general, Rosemary di Carlo. However, it remains unknown how the Turkish side will deal with her legal status, as, before leaving for New York, Tatar told the media of the Turkish Cypriot group Kibris that “the mission of Mrs. Holgin-Kueyar failed, there is no need to appoint a new personal representative of c.c. of the UN and if such a proposal comes, we will reject it”.
In the same interview, the Turkish Cypriot leader argued that Britain’s participation in the consultations was a request of the Greek Cypriot side and that London’s involvement “disrupts the balance on the table”.
Keeping equal distances from both sides, the c.g. of the UN expressed his regret that, despite Ms. Quellard’s efforts with the two leaders, political actors, civil society on the island, guarantor powers and the international community, no common ground was found between the leaders to bridge the gap in their positions and to rebuild trust for processes to resolve the Cyprus problem.
In his statements after the dinner, Nikos Christodoulidis emphasized that the three guarantor powers of the Cyprus Independence Treaties (Zurich/London 1959-60) will take part in the expanded informal process, insisting on the informal nature of the meetings and that it is still a long way off the resumption of talks. According to diplomatic circles, the aim of the Cypriot leadership is to get the Cyprus issue out of the seven-year deadlock after Crans Montana in 2017 and to involve the US and the EU more actively in it. The Cypriot President clarified that there has been no progress on matters of substance and in particular on the issue of sovereign equality, where the Turkish Cypriots and Ankara insist. He underlined, moreover, that Nicosia would like the continuation of Ms. Holgin’s effort, indirectly answering to Tatar, who does not want any more personal UN mediators, that “in any case someone (s.s.: from the side of the United Nations ) will have a leading role in this effort.”
POSITIVE REACTIONS
In Cyprus, the president of the DISY and the Cypriot Parliament, Annita Dimitriou, applauding the expansion of the informal meetings, spoke of “a positive step in the effort to restart the negotiations to resolve the Cyprus issue on the basis of UN decisions and resolutions”. Christodoulidis’ manipulations were also supported by the governor. of AKEL, Stefanos Stefanou, as well as DIKO, with the view that the Cyprus process is essentially restarting after 7 years of stagnation.
The results of the tripartite meeting in New York were also welcomed by the representative of the Commission for Foreign Policy, Peter Stano, stressing that the E.U. will continue to support the efforts of Mr. Guterres. In Turkey, the press focuses mainly on the fact of Ankara’s participation in the extended consultations.
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