A working dinner attended by the representatives of the five sides involved in the long-standing Cyprus issue was concluded in Geneva on Monday, under the auspices of UN Chief Antonio Guterres, with all the latter reportedly presenting an outline of their positions.
The informal talks, held over an hour and a half, were attended by the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, representing the Greek Cypriot community, Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar, as well as the foreign ministers of Greece and Turkey, George Gerapetritis and Hakan Fidan, respectively.
Also in attendance was Stephen Doughty, the British minister of state for Europe, North America and overseas territories, given that the United Kingdom is one of three guarantor powers for Cyprus.
Most of the Republic of Cyprus’ political leaders, along with former president Nicos Anastasiades, also traveled to Geneva for the setting, along with Giulia Bertezzolo, who heads the EU Commission’s Cyprus settlement unit.
The latter conveyed a message of support by the president of the European Council, Antonio Costa, as the working dinner began, expressing the full support for the UN Secretary General’s efforts to resolve the Cyprus problem and the EU’s firm commitment to the reunification of Cyprus through a comprehensive settlement on the basis of a bizonal and bicommunal federation.
A plenary session of participants is scheduled for Tuesday.
