President Tufan Erhürman issues a statement ahead of his first meeting with the Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Christodoulides on Thursday
President Erhürman: “What will create a conducive atmosphere for a solution is sincerity, mutual trust, and refraining from engaging in blame games about the process through the media.”
President Tufan Erhürman issued a written statement ahead of his meeting this Thursday with Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Christodoulides at the official residence of UN Special Representative Mr. Khassim Diagne, in the UN buffer zone.
The statement of President Erhürman reads as follows:
“We shall be meeting Mr. Christodoulides for the first time this Thursday for one hour. Eight years have passed since 2017, and it certainly is not easy to say that these years have contributed to the emergence of renewed hopes for a settlement on the island.
After so many years, it is essential that expectations are managed correctly as we enter this new process beginning on Thursday. Regrettably, given the developments on the island and in the wider region, it would be overly optimistic to claim that we currently have an atmosphere conducive to a settlement. I believe that creating such an atmosphere is an obligation we hold as leaders toward our peoples.
What will generate optimism and foster a constructive climate is a genuine will for a solution, sincerity, mutual trust, and commitment to avoid engaging in blame games regarding the process through the media. Naturally, there will be statements on developments outside the process. However, exercising the utmost caution in statements directly related to the process is vital for its progress — and I will act with this sense of responsibility.
On Thursday, we will meet Mr. Christodoulides for the first time and become acquainted and share our views on many issues. It would not be appropriate to expect clarity on all matters within a single hour — and, more importantly, to create such an expectation.
I hope the initial meeting is held in a sincere atmosphere conducive to building mutual trust, and that it initiates a process of meetings at short and reasonable intervals.”
The statement of President Erhürman reads as follows:
“We shall be meeting Mr. Christodoulides for the first time this Thursday for one hour. Eight years have passed since 2017, and it certainly is not easy to say that these years have contributed to the emergence of renewed hopes for a settlement on the island.
After so many years, it is essential that expectations are managed correctly as we enter this new process beginning on Thursday. Regrettably, given the developments on the island and in the wider region, it would be overly optimistic to claim that we currently have an atmosphere conducive to a settlement. I believe that creating such an atmosphere is an obligation we hold as leaders toward our peoples.
What will generate optimism and foster a constructive climate is a genuine will for a solution, sincerity, mutual trust, and commitment to avoid engaging in blame games regarding the process through the media. Naturally, there will be statements on developments outside the process. However, exercising the utmost caution in statements directly related to the process is vital for its progress — and I will act with this sense of responsibility.
On Thursday, we will meet Mr. Christodoulides for the first time and become acquainted and share our views on many issues. It would not be appropriate to expect clarity on all matters within a single hour — and, more importantly, to create such an expectation.
I hope the initial meeting is held in a sincere atmosphere conducive to building mutual trust, and that it initiates a process of meetings at short and reasonable intervals.”