Informal Cyprob summit to take place in New York's Greentree

Cyprus’ outgoing Permanent Representative to the UN and Greek Cypriot negotiator, Andreas Mavroyiannis, said Monday that the informal five-party summit on the Cyprus Problem which the UN Secretary-General (UNSG) Antonio Guterres intends to convene is an ambitious project, adding that "we must not lose the window of opportunity that lies before us."

The setting up of the summit, which Mavroyiannis revealed will take place at Greentree in New York, will “demand a lot of effort over the next few weeks”.

Speaking on behalf of the Greek Cypriot side, Mavroyiannis said that at the summit, “we will try to create a conducive climate for negotiations and halt Turkey’s faits accomplis as regards Varosha, the Cyprus EEZ, and so on."

Mavroyiannis was addressing a farewell online event organized in his honour by the Federation of Cypriot American Organizations and the International Coordinating Committee - Justice for Cyprus (PSEKA). Mavroyiannis said he will be be returning to Cyprus upon the request of President Nicos Anastasiades, who found that due to the coronavirus pandemic it became increasingly difficult for Mavroyiannis to exercise both his duties as Cyprus Problem negotiator and Permanent Representative to the UN.

Mavroyiannis will return to Cyprus after the adoption of the resolution for the renewal of the mandate of the UN peacekeeping force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) by the UN Security Council and will be replaced by Ambassador Andreas Hadjichrysanthou, who served in the past as the deputy Permanent Representative in New York.

Referring to developments in the Cyprus Problem, Mavroyiannis noted that after the failure of the Conference in Crans Montana three and a half years ago, the UNSG asked for some time for reflection before the resumption of fresh negotiations.

He added that due to the change in the leadership of the Turkish Cypriot community and other factors, including the shift in the policy of Turkey, the UNSG asked for an informal 5+1 meeting, involving the two sides and the three guarantor powers under the auspices of the UN, so that all parties can put their cards on the table and assess whether conditions are ripe for fresh formal negotiations.

Mavroyiannis said that if formal negotiations are launched, there will be a real possibility of reaching a settlement.

Mavroyiannis said Turkey and the new Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar are now seeking a confederation of two separate states which will enjoy sovereign equality, deviating from the thus-far sought after solution of a bi-zonal bicommunal federation.

He nevertheless stressed that the new US administration may pave the way for Turkey to revise its offensive policy, and highlighted the importance of the measures taken by the EU in reaction to the country's provocations.

Mavroyiannis added that the Republic’s effort to restore relations between Qatar and Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries, as well as the agreement aiming to smoothen Israel’s relations with the UAE and Bahrain have created a negative climate in Turkey.