On October 15, an informal dinner in New York will bring together Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar, Greek Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides, and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to nurture dialogue and ease tensions surrounding the long-standing Cyprus issue. With no fixed agenda, this gathering is a hopeful step towards fostering understanding and shaping a peaceful future for Cyprus.
What is the purpose of the informal Cyprus leaders’ dinner with the UN chief?
The informal dinner in New York on October 15 aims to foster dialogue and reduce tensions regarding the Cyprus issue. Attendees include the Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar, Greek Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides, and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. With no set agenda, it provides a social setting for leaders to exchange views and potentially shape the future of Cyprus.
Unofficial Gathering in New York
In a move towards easing tensions and fostering dialogue, an informal dinner is set to occur on October 15 involving key figures in the Cyprus issue. The Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar’s office announced the event on a Wednesday evening, revealing that President Nikos Christodoulides and United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will also be in attendance. Scheduled to take place in New York, the dinner is described as being without a specific agenda, aiming instead to provide a social setting where the leaders can exchange views.
The announcement followed confirmation from senior UN officials that the Greek Cypriot side has agreed to the date after consultation with Guterres’ office. It’s expected that formal invitations will be issued to both parties by the UN Secretary-General shortly.
Anticipation and Expectations
While the Cypriot government had not provided a response at the time of the office’s announcement, Government spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis had previously indicated that official information about the meeting’s date was awaited. Furthermore, he expressed that the government had proposed several possible dates for such an occasion, demonstrating a proactive approach and a willingness to engage in dialogue.
The initiative for the dinner has been welcomed by the government as a first step towards progress. Letymbiotis emphasized the government’s openness to dialogue, confidence in its positions, and adherence to the UN Security Council’s resolutions outlining a bizonal, bicommunal federation with political equality. This framework, he believes, holds the potential to address the concerns of both Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities and resolve the longstanding Cyprus problem.
Leaders’ Remarks on the Informal Meeting
Tatar, while speaking at the ceremonial opening of the north’s parliament, commented on the upcoming meeting, underscoring its informal and agenda-free nature as beneficial for all parties involved. He highlighted the potential of the dinner in creating an environment conducive to a 4+1 informal consultation. This setting would involve Turkish Cypriots, Turkey, Greek Cypriots, Greece, and Guterres, focusing on shaping the future of Cyprus.
The plans for the informal dinner arose after previous attempts for a meeting in August did not materialize. Despite this, Christodoulides had been actively seeking to break the deadlock, with efforts directed towards both the UN and the European Union. Conversely, Tatar had notably expressed that he had not been officially invited to prior meetings and had publicly declined participation in such a meeting, emphasizing that progress would not stem from public statements alone.
The Path Forward
The upcoming dinner is seen as an important development in the ongoing efforts to rekindle talks and find a viable solution to the Cyprus problem, which has seen little movement since the failed negotiations at Crans-Montana in 2017. The informal setting may pave the way for more structured negotiations in the future, with both sides coming to the table with a shared understanding of the challenges and a commitment to finding common ground for the benefit of both communities.
What is the purpose of the informal Cyprus leaders’ dinner with the UN chief?
The informal dinner on October 15 aims to foster dialogue and reduce tensions regarding the Cyprus issue. Attendees include Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar, Greek Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides, and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. With no set agenda, the gathering provides a social setting for leaders to exchange views and potentially shape the future of Cyprus.
Where and when will the informal dinner take place?
The informal Cyprus leaders’ dinner is scheduled to take place in New York on October 15. This event will bring together key leaders involved in the long-standing Cyprus issue to facilitate dialogue and understanding.
What are the expectations surrounding this informal meeting?
While the specifics of the meeting are informal and without a defined agenda, there is hope that this gathering will act as a stepping stone towards rekindling talks and addressing the Cyprus problem. It is anticipated that both sides will benefit from exchanging views in a less formal environment, potentially paving the way for future structured negotiations.
What has been the response from the Cypriot government regarding the dinner?
The Cypriot government has welcomed the initiative for the informal dinner as a positive first step towards progress. Government spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis expressed the government’s openness to dialogue and confidence in a resolution based on a bizonal, bicommunal federation with political equality, as outlined in UN Security Council resolutions.
