President Nikos Christodoulides said on Friday that he expects to convene the national council regarding the Cyprus issue before the end of the year.
The announcement follows Thursday’s meeting with Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman. When asked if the national council would be held before his upcoming meeting with the UN secretary-general’s personal envoy, Maria Angela Holguin, in early December, the president confirmed it was likely.
Christodoulides described the meeting with Erhurman as positive. He said it created the basis for a renewed dialogue and emphasised that the main goal remains the resumption of negotiations.
He also highlighted that both sides agreed to a joint meeting with Holguin. Negotiators are preparing for this meeting, which will aim to lead to an expanded session with the UN secretary-general.
The president stated further developments in the diplomatic calendar. Holguin is planning visits to Greece and Turkey, and European officials, including EU envoy Johannes Hahn, are also involved. Christodoulides said these steps are important for creating conditions that could lead to substantive talks resuming from where they were left off at the Crans-Montana summit in 2017.
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