Cyprus President describes coming week in New York as crucial for developments on Cyprus issue

Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhürman have held talks in Nicosia ahead of next week’s session of the UN General Assembly in New York, Euronews reported.

Following a private meeting with the Turkish Cypriot leader, Christodoulides said the talks had been productive and that the Greek Cypriot side had put forward new ideas.

“The Turkish Cypriot leader asked for time to consider them. There was no negative reaction. Further clarification was requested on certain points, which I provided. I will also present all these proposals, as well as other proposals we have prepared, to the UN Secretary-General. I believe these are proposals and ideas that can lead us towards positive developments in the very near future,” the President of the Republic of Cyprus said.

The meeting took place as part of regular contacts between the two leaders. Discussions focused on the methodology and substance of efforts to resolve the Cyprus issue, as well as measures aimed at building confidence.

The talks came at a time when important questions concerning the next steps in the Cyprus settlement process remain unresolved.