The government had secured the foundation for any efforts to resolve the Cyprus issue, which must be carried out within the framework of the UN security council agreement, deputy government spokesman Giannis Antoniou said on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot negotiators Menelaos Menelaou and Güneş Onar are set to meet in the course of the day, to prepare for the informal summit to take place in Switzerland on March18 and 19.

Addressing expectations for the much discussed five-party meeting in Geneva, Antoniou said it would “pave the way for developments” and “not be the end but the start of the process.”

The state had sought out European engagement as an “observer”, which was an “imperative necessity in any direct negotiations”, he added. He said that efforts were also underway to secure EU presence during the informal Geneva meeting.

The EU had itself signaled this request to the UN secretary-general, Antoniou said.

Responding to speculation that the meeting was unlikely to touch on matters of substance, Antoniou said this was not possible, since it would pave the way for developments, “regardless of outcomes.”

President Nikos Christodoulides, speaking to journalists after his address to the nation on Wednesday, had said he had “not only one […] but a third and a fourth plan”, in the event that Geneva fails to kickstart negotiations.

“I discussed this with the UNSG and I am ready to take on my personal responsibilities,” the president added.

Asked what the alternative plans might entail, the president said “Plan B” would be to “agree on a process that would to lead to the restart of negotiations.”

Christodoulides said he was willing to discuss all six points of UNSG Antonio Guterres’ framework, however, anything outside the framework would not be up for debate.

As for EU participation, Christodoulides said this would be a commissioner and details of the assignment were being awaited.

As for Turkey wishing to be brought into the EU sphere, the president reiterated the statements he had made during a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan at the European Political Community’s summit in Hungary last year.

“Turkey wants to participate in [EU] programmes and if they wish to do so “we are ready to discuss [it]”, he said.