Consultations ahead of Anastasiades-Akinci meeting

President Nicos Anastasiades will be holding meetings and consultations with FM Christodoulides and former FM Kasoulides today and Thursday, ahead of his meeting with Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci, set for Friday at 09:30 am local time.

The meetings are taking place at the presidential retreat in the Troodos mountains. The President is sheduled to arrive at the meeting with Akinci directly from Troodos.

A government source said that President Anastasiades will raise two issues during his meeting with Akinci, on Friday, the first regarding Turkish activities off Cyprus’ coast and the second about the unilateral steps of the Turkish Cypriot side in Famagusta.

Following the President’s meeting with the political leaders, on Monday in Troodos, the date for the next National Council session remains to be determined, in order for President Anastasiades to inform them about the outcome of his tête-à-tête with Akinci. The new meeting will be held probably after August 15.

The same source expects that Friday’s meeting will set in motion the process for Lute’s return to Cyprus, probably by the end of August or beginning of September. As per usual, Lute is also expected to have contacts with the guarantor powers before informing Antonio Guterres about the outcome of her efforts.

The UN senior official’s next round of contacts in Nicosia is expected to take place before the President’s departure for New York to attend the UN General Assembly and meet with the UN Secretary-General. Lute’s efforts will need to bear fruit for a potential joint meeting of the two leaders with Guterres to take place, the source concluded.