GCA leader Nikos Christodoulides made a statement following his meeting with TRNC President Tufan Erhürman at the UN Good Offices Mission. Christodoulides described his meeting with Erhürman as "very good and constructive." Stating that they had agreed not to share some of the issues discussed during the meeting with the public, Christodoulides argued that the absence of a joint statement should not be interpreted as a deadlock in the negotiation process.
In a statement made before the meeting, Christodoulides had announced that he would bring up an alternative proposal regarding the opening of new crossing points. However, no agreement on new crossing gates was announced following the meeting. No concrete consensus was announced regarding the proposals previously raised by the Greek Cypriot side concerning the transfer of Varosha to UN administration, direct trade through Famagusta Port, and the port operating under EU supervision.
Christodoulides stated that contacts would continue with the arrival of the UN Secretary-General's Personal Envoy on Cyprus, Maria Angela Holguin, to the island. He expressed that the proposals voiced in meetings held with representatives of the Technical Committee on Youth, the Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage, and the Civil Society Consultation Mechanism would be evaluated in future discussions.
According to the schedule previously announced by the UN, Holguin is expected to arrive on the island on October 29 and hold a tripartite meeting with the two leaders on November 9. Following today's meeting between the leaders, no joint decision was announced regarding new crossing gates, confidence-building measures, or the methodology of the negotiations.
News Source: 12punto
