A trilateral meeting on the Cyprus issue in New York is not expected to take place before October, according to diplomatic sources on Tuesday. 

The same sources said that the possible final date for a trilateral meeting will be decided after the separate meetings the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will have with the two leaders – President Nikos Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar – on the sidelines of the UN summit.

During a press conference, the President of the United Nations General Assembly (PGA) for the 78th session, Dennis Francis, expressed his support to Guterres’ efforts to find common ground between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot side that will lead to the resumption of negotiations.

Replying on Monday to CNA he said: “I certainly hope for a positive outcome. This situation, as you know, has been going on for a very long time since 1974. I fully support the efforts of the Secretary General and his Good Offices efforts to bring this situation to an end. The General Assembly, as you know, has passed previous resolutions. So, perhaps this time we will make meaningful progress.”

Meanwhile on Tuesday morning, the north’s ‘foreign minister’ Tahsin Ertugruloglu rubbished the idea of a tripartite meeting taking place in New York.

Speaking to Bengu Turk TV, he said, “I can categorically deny claims the Greek Cypriot side has accepted plans for a tripartite meeting. Talks can only be held in a ‘four-plus-one’ format.”

Talks in a “four-plus-one” format would entail Christodoulides, Tatar, and Guterres being joined by representatives of the Greek and Turkish governments.

Christodoulides is set to make his speech to the UN General Assembly on the morning of September 25.

Outside of the Cyprus problem, Cypriot Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos is set to hold a tripartite meeting with his Greek counterpart Giorgos Gerapetritis and his Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdelatty on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.

The government said the meeting presents an opportunity “for discussions and coordination on strategic matters, addressing common challenges and regional issues of mutual concern, such as developments in the region and aspects of relations between the European Union and Egypt.”