Greek Cypriot negotiator Menelaos Menelaou met on Wednesday in New York with the UN Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, Rosemary DiCarlo, to discuss prospects for the resumption of negotiations on the Cyprus issue. Menelaou arrived on Tuesday in New York, where President Christodoulides arrived on Saturday to participate in the UN General Assembly and to hold a series of meetings. The Cyprus News Agency (CNA) has learned that during the encounter, that took place ahead of the meeting which President Christodoulides will have on Friday with the UN Secretary – General, Antonio Guterres, DiCarlo and Menelaou discussed the current state of affairs as regards the ongoing efforts and consultations aiming at the revival of the negotiating process for the Cyprus question. According to information, the UN reaffirmed during the meeting their commitment to continue efforts with a view to achieve progress in creating positive prospects. Nicosia reiterated its readiness for a meeting between President Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leader, Ersin Tatar, under the UNSG’s auspices, as well as for the appointment of a UN envoy as the next step in efforts to prepare the ground for the resumption of the negotiations. 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
