Mr. Erhürman said they desire a 5+1 meeting to yield a substantial result, adding that "these substantial results are clarified through preparatory work."
The content and goals of a potential expanded 5+1 meeting on the Cyprus issue must be clarified in advance, Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhürman stated on Monday evening, saying that such a process must be properly prepared to lead to a substantial result.
Speaking on a program of the illegal "Bayrak," Mr. Erhürman described his meeting yesterday with the UN Secretary-General's Personal Envoy on Cyprus, María Ángela Olguín Cuéllar, as "sincere, useful and productive." He noted that the effort underway concerns not only Confidence-Building Measures (CBMs) but also the essence of the Cyprus issue, adding however that "it is too early to say where the process will lead."
Mr. Erhürman said they desire a 5+1 meeting to yield a substantial result, adding that "these substantial results are clarified through preparatory work."
They expect, he added, that the first signs of a new initiative will appear around the end of June or early July, and reiterated that the Turkish Cypriot side favors a three-stage process: substantial progress on CBMs in Nicosia, determination of the "rules of the game" before the start of the process, based on a quadrilateral methodology, and then transition to comprehensive negotiations.
Regarding the possible timing of a 5+1 conference, he said that "if the preparatory work indicates the end of June or mid-July, it can take place then. If they are not ready by August, it could be postponed to September." He added that the Turkish Cypriot side does not desire "negotiation for the sake of negotiation" and that the United Nations also do not seem to be seeking a 5+1 similar to previous fruitless meetings.
Referring to CBMs, he said that "it's not that nothing has been done," but, as he noted, the desired point has not yet been reached. He expressed hope that there will be sufficient preparation to make a 5+1 meeting substantive at the end of July or beginning of August.
Mr. Erhürman reiterated that the Turkish Cypriot side's position includes four points: political equality should not be subject to negotiation, start and end dates for negotiations should be set, previous convergences should be confirmed, and there should be no return to the status quo if the Greek Cypriot side leaves the table. "We will not participate in any process that does not incorporate these four points," he stated.
Asked about a possible one-on-one meeting with the President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, he said there is no scheduled meeting at present, but it could be arranged. He also stated that he does not expect the NATO Summit to affect the process, while regarding the President's references to the stance of Turkish President Tayyip Erdoğan, he said that, according to diplomatic rules, Mr. Christodoulides can only speak on his own behalf.
The Turkish Cypriot leader stated that solving the Cyprus issue is the only path to lasting stability and peace in the region, noting that issues such as security, energy and hydrocarbons make joint decisions on the island inevitable.
He also mentioned that it is already known that the Turkish President does not view a 5+1 meeting negatively.
Source: CNA
