UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed his regret for the fact that despite the efforts of his Personal Envoy, no common ground was found between the leaders for the way forward in the Cyprus issue, encouraging them, during the informal dinner they had with him in UN headquarters in New York to consider how to bridge the gap in their positions and restore trust to allow for a movement that will lead to a settlement.
This is stated in a statement issued by the United Nations regarding the informal dinner Guterres had with the President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulidis, and the Turkish leader Ersin Tatar, in New York, in which it is noted that the two leaders agreed to meet informally in a wider framework in the near future, under the auspices of the Secretary-General, to discuss the way forward and that they also agreed to meet in Cyprus to explore the possibility of opening new crossing points.
Besides, the Secretary General, as mentioned, underlined the continued firm commitment of the United Nations for a peaceful resolution of the Cyprus issue, for the benefit of all Cypriots and future generations".
Specifically, the announcement states that "the Secretary General hosted an informal dinner today with the leader of the Greek Cypriot community, Mr. Nikos Christodoulidis, and the leader of the Turkish Cypriot community, Mr. Ersin Tatar".
"The Secretary General recalled the commitment of his Personal Envoy for Cyprus, Mrs. Maria Angela Holguin Quellar, who submitted her final report to him in July. He regretted the fact that despite the efforts of his Personal Envoy and her engagement with the two leaders, political actors and civil society on the island, the guarantor powers and the wider international community, no common ground was found between leaders for the path forward in the Cyprus issue", it is added.
It is reported that "the Secretary-General encouraged the leaders to consider how to bridge the gap in their positions and restore trust to allow for a movement that will lead to a settlement."
“Leaders agreed to hold 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 meet in Cyprus to explore the possibility of opening new crossing points", it added
"The Secretary-General underlined the continued firm commitment of the United Nations to a peaceful resolution of the Cyprus issue, for the benefit of all Cypriots and future generations," the announcement concludes.
Source: KYPE
