Government Spokesman Nicos Christodoulides on Friday said that no procedures have begun for the composition of a new constitution, pointing out that the two sides are still in negotiations.
Speaking to the press following a meeting President Nicos Anastasiades had with UNSG Special Advisor for Cyprus Espen Barth Eide, the Spokesman said that the two men held a very good meeting and they reviewed the progress of the talks.
Christodoulides said that the negotiators of the two sides, namely Andreas Mavroyiannis and Ozdil Nami, will continue their meetings until August 7 and then they will meet again just before September 1, when the two leaders are set to meet again.
Replying to a question whether the procedures for the composition of a new constitution have begun, the Spokesman said that nothing has started and that the negotiations are still underway. He added that there is a political understanding between the two leaders in a number of issues.
Christodoulides went on to explain that the goal of the negotiators is for this political understanding to be reflected on paper, in the documents that are being discussed in the cross negotiations.
The Spokesman pointed out that the procedure of the cross negotiations is very important because it creates an incentive in the talks, adding that it is for this reason that President Anastasiades insisted for this to be included in the joint communiqué of February 2014.
Invited to comment on a statement UNSG Special Advisor made earlier about the composition of a new constitution, Christodoulides said that when we get close to the solution, we will have to prepare a constitution that will capture the state of affairs on the agreement that will occur.
He went on to clarify that we are not in that stage yet but it is one of the prerequisites to reach agreement on a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem.
Government Spokesman said that the negotiations are currently focusing on governance, territory and property and that there is an ongoing dialogue, the negotiators are carrying on their work in order to capture on paper the political understanding between the two leaders.
In another question about Eide`s statement that he cannot exclude a joint meeting between President Anastasiades, T/c leader Mustafa Akinci and UNSG Ban Ki Moon in New York, although there is nothing scheduled so far, the Spokesman said that President Anastasiades will be representing the Republic of Cyprus during the UN General Assembly and there is no such issue with regard to a joint meeting.
He went on to say that the President will be holding a meeting with SG as usual.
Invited to comment on Eide expressing complaints against the media and asked if these complaints were brought up in the meeting with President Anastasiades , the Spokesman said that this issue was not discussed in length.
Christodoulides said that Eide referred to some reports in the media but went on to say that he has the impression that he did not refer to Greek Cypriot media.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37% of its territory. UN-led, aiming to reunite the island under a federal roof, resumed last May between President Anastasiades and Akinci.
