GC Press: Tatar and Hristodulidis Meeting Will Reveal Intentions

News regarding this upcoming meeting between the leaders of Cyprus appeared in the Greek press.

The Greek Cyprus newspaper Fileleftheros headlined the article: “First Test After Geneva – Tatar’s Intentions Will Be Revealed in the Meeting on April 2.” The report stated that the meeting between Turkish Cypriot President Ersin Tatar and Greek Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides, scheduled for next Wednesday under the presence of Colin Stewart, will be the first substantive test of their intentions following Geneva.

The newspaper noted that this meeting would reveal whether President Tatar remains committed to the points agreed upon in Geneva or if he plans to continue from where he left off before the Geneva conference. It also emphasized the importance of the meeting in determining the intentions of all involved parties.

Another key aspect of the meeting will be the agenda President Tatar will bring, with the newspaper suggesting that whether Tatar stays aligned with the agenda outlined in Geneva will be a significant issue. Regardless of what Tatar desires, maintaining the agreed-upon agenda from Geneva will be crucial.

Yiannis Antoniou’s Remarks

According to the report, Greek Cypriot Government Spokesman Yiannis Antoniou indicated that the first face-to-face meeting between Tatar and Christodoulides would address how to proceed with the results of the informal Geneva meeting, including border crossings, other confidence-building measures, and progress in light of the July summit.

Antoniou also mentioned that the Greek Cypriot side’s effort is to use time creatively in these discussions.

Regarding a question about Maria Angela Holguin's return to the Cyprus issue, Antoniou stated that they were awaiting the official announcement from the United Nations, and added that they expected this in the near future.

Negotiators to Meet on Thursday

The Alithia newspaper reported that Greek Cypriot negotiator Menelaos Menelaou and the Special Representative of the President, Güneş Onar, will meet on Thursday before the leaders’ meeting on April 2.

The purpose of the meeting, as stated in the article, is to prepare the groundwork for the leaders' meeting and to expand the possibilities for consensus-building among negotiators.