Christodoulides gathered party leaders after the talks in New York — the UN is preparing new steps and is waiting for Ankara’s position.

President of Cyprus Nikos Christodoulides held a meeting of the National Council, at which political leaders discussed the further strategy on the Cyprus issue. The meeting took place after the president returned from New York, where he held talks with the UN leadership.

Nicosia’s main goal is to secure the resumption of full negotiations and to prevent a final deadlock. The coming months are especially important: António Guterres is approaching the end of his term as UN secretary-general and, according to available information, intends to continue efforts on Cyprus until the very end.

Party proposals differ markedly. AKEL favors preserving previously reached agreements and proposes sending the UN secretary-general a letter with concrete initiatives from the Greek Cypriot side. DISY supports this idea and calls for the European Union to be drawn more actively into the process. DIKO proposes considering a new joint statement by the sides and the possibility of phased talks on unresolved issues.

ELAM does not agree with the existing model of a bizonal, bicommunal federation and insists on a review of strategy. ALMA leader Odysseas Michaelides, for his part, does not expect a quick breakthrough and believes Turkey may drag out the process.

The position of Ankara will now be decisive. According to the publication, Guterres intends to discuss the situation with the Turkish government. The UN is also considering the possibility of holding a new international conference, but a fundamental disagreement remains between the sides: Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot side are promoting a two-state model.

The next important stage will be the expected October visit to Cyprus by the UN secretary-general’s personal envoy, María Ángela Holguín. Her talks are meant to clarify whether there are real conditions for the sides to return to the negotiating table.

@cyprus_kipr