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Leaders to attend informal event with new UN representative (Updated)

ΠτΔ – Ειδικός Αντιπρόσωπος του ΓΓ
President Nicos Anastasiades receives the new Special Representative of the UN Secretary General in Cyprus Colin Stewart

A United Nations reception at the Ledra Palace on Tuesday that will be attended by the leaders of the two communities is an informal social event without an agenda, UNSG Special Representative Colin Stewart said on Friday.

Speaking in the afternoon after a meeting with Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar, Stewart said he looked forward to a close relationship.

“As I have told him, I want to be helpful; I want to be constructive and do all I can,” the UN official said.

Stewart said he had a useful briefing on Tatar’s positions, which was fundamental for him to start understanding where the sides stood.

He said he hoped to be a good partner and he looked forward to getting out and meeting people across the island.

Stewart expressed satisfaction over Tatar’s acceptance of an invitation to attend Tuesday’s reception, which President Nicos Anastasiades has also accepted.

“This will be a very informal social event without an agenda, but it will give the leaders the opportunity to talk to each other and myself to know them better,” Stewart said.

Earlier Friday, Stewart had a meeting with Anastasiades who reiterated the Greek Cypriot side’s will to restart reunification talks.

In a tweet following the meeting, Anastasiades said he had “conveyed our government’s unwavering commitment to provide any assistance deemed necessary in the exercise of his challenging duties.”

“We continue our efforts to resume the negotiation process, in full respect for the long-established basis of the settlement, with the aim of reuniting our island and its people.”

In a statement afterwards, the government spokesman said the president presented the Greek Cypriot side’s positions reiterating its will and commitment to resuming the negotiating process to resolve the Cyprus problem.

Anastasiades also briefed Stewart about Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot side’s actions in the eastern Mediterranean and Varosha, with special emphasis on reversing the fait accompli in the fenced-off area of Famagusta.

These were the first meetings between the two leaders and the UN official who assumed his duties this week.

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