Letymbiotis “Talks must resume from where they let off “ ahead of UN meeting

Greek Cypriot Government Spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis said Monday that Greek Cypriot side is heading into next month’s meeting in New York with “the same constructive attitude, spirit, and sincere political will” to advance confidence-building measures, but above all, with the goal of resuming peace talks from the point they were last suspended.

Speaking at the Presidential Palace after Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Christodoulides’ meeting with U.S. fire experts, Letymbiotis was asked whether a new UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Cyprus would be appointed before the joint meeting of the two leaders with Antonio Guterres in September. He replied that the matter lies with the UN but confirmed that the sides have agreed on the proposed candidate and are awaiting official announcements.

On the remarks by Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar, who recently accused the Greek Cypriot side of a “tyrannical mentality” following the resignation of a British MP from his role as UK Trade Envoy to Turkey, Letymbiotis stressed that “defending international law and legitimacy can never be considered tyrannical.” Instead, he said, it represents the protection of sovereignty, justice, and UN principles.

He added that Cyprus has pursued diplomatic measures from the outset of what he described as the MP’s “illegal and unacceptable action,” and noted that the government is mindful of the timing of the September meeting with Tatar, especially with Turkish Cypriot leadership elections due in October. Tatar’s rhetoric, he suggested, is likely to intensify ahead of that vote.

Still, Letymbiotis emphasized that the Greek Cypriot side remains committed to a constructive approach. “Our primary aim is to resume negotiations from where they were interrupted,” he said.

Asked whether the government was concerned about the possible election of opposition leader Tufan Erhürman as the next Turkish Cypriot leader, Letymbiotis replied that what matters most is the resumption of substantive talks based on UN Security Council resolutions. He underlined that all participants in recent multilateral discussions, apart from Turkey and Tatar, reaffirmed there will be no deviation from those resolutions.

( Source: CNA)