A meeting on Friday morning of the political group on the Cyprus issue was held ‘in a constructive and fruitful spirit’, in view of the October 15 meeting in New York, negotiator of the Greek Cypriot side, Menelaos Menelaou, told CNA.
Asked by CNA about the meeting at the Presidential Palace of the advisory 12-member group, appointed by President Nikos Christodoulides last April, Menelaou said that the discussion took place in ‘a constructive and fruitful spirit’.
According to Menelaou, the political group was briefed about the contacts held in New York during the UN General Assembly high-level week, and ahead of the upcoming dinner in New York, noting that the members of the group ‘expressed their own views in a constructive and fruitful spirit.’
He said that the President of the Republic is going to New York next week, ‘strengthened’, as himself put it after the National Council meeting, ‘so that we can have a positive outcome through the upcoming dinner.’
President Nikos Christodoulides, had said earl
ier this week that the Greek Cypriot side was preparing for his meeting with Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in New York, noting that the negotiator – Menelaou – would invite the political group on the Cyprus issue for a meeting on Friday for an exchange of views, following what was discussed at the National Council last Monday.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively.
Source: Cyprus News Agency