**Title: Discussions Underway for New Leaders’ Meeting in Cyprus**
Discussions are currently taking place between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot sides to arrange a new meeting between President Nikos Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman. The objective of this meeting is to establish conditions conducive to a larger discussion regarding the long-standing Cyprus problem, which is anticipated to occur later this year.
Victor Papadopoulos, the director of the presidential press office, confirmed to the Cyprus Mail that the Greek Cypriot side has proposed a meeting within August and is now awaiting a response from the Turkish Cypriot leadership. The proposed discussions are expected to focus on the methodology of negotiations and to document any convergences reached in past discussions concerning the Cyprus issue.
In a related statement, deputy government spokesman Yiannis Antoniou indicated that the two leaders will engage in dialogue about the negotiation processes and explore the potential for future cooperation. This initiative follows a suggestion made by Erhurman during a meeting with United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, where he proposed that the leaders meet on a weekly basis. Sources close to Erhurman confirmed that both sides are now collaborating to facilitate this upcoming leaders' meeting as a result of that suggestion.
The recent developments come in the wake of Guterres’ remarks after a tripartite meeting, where he indicated that a new enlarged meeting regarding the Cyprus problem would be convened only after sufficient progress has been made on confidence-building measures, the meeting’s methodology, and the substantive issues at hand. This forthcoming meeting is often referred to as a “five-plus-one” meeting, which will include not only the two Cypriot leaders but also the three guarantor powers: Greece, Turkey, and the United Kingdom, along with the United Nations.
Erhurman reiterated his call for weekly meetings with Christodoulides, emphasizing the importance of completing the “homework” assigned by Guterres during his recent visit to the island. He stated, “As we left the meeting, in front of Guterres, we said that we are ready to meet Christodoulides once a week.” This sentiment was echoed in a press conference following their meeting, highlighting a commitment to ongoing dialogue.
The proposal for regular meetings draws parallels to an agreement made in the past between former acting president Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash during a visit by then-UN Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim in August 1974. Waldheim characterized the agreement for weekly meetings as a “limited step” but acknowledged it as a “very encouraging sign for the future.”
As discussions progress, both sides remain hopeful that these meetings could pave the way for renewed talks aimed at resolving the Cyprus problem, which has persisted for decades. The outcome of the proposed meetings will be closely watched, as they may influence the broader dynamics of the negotiations and the potential for lasting peace on the island.