Nicosia.- CNA

The methodology to be followed in the UN-led talks on the Cyprus problem, during the next months, was agreed at the meeting on Friday between Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot Mustafa Akinci, in the framework of the talks, however no negotiation took place today on the substance of the problem, President Anastasiades said after returning to the Presidential Palace from the meeting.

The next meetings of the leaders, in the framework of the negotiations, will take place on February 8 and 26.

Anastasiades said that today`s meeting was quite productive even though it was brief, noting that they agreed on the methodology to be followed in the talks during the next months.

Asked if they negotiated on the substance of the problem, Anastasiades said no, adding that they agreed that there are significant pending issues that need to be overcome, there are issues that need to be discussed more intensively. Furthermore, he noted, they agreed to review the course of the negotiations so far and hold further discussions on minimizing differences, and also on matters related to the technical proceeding of the issues, so that it will be possible to implement them from day one if they reach an agreement.

Asked if priority will be given to certain chapters, Anastasiades replied negatively, noting that “a general review will take place, the existing differences will be re-examined to establish how long the distance is, so as to minimize it, achieve convergences, and a more general examination of all the chapters of the Cyprus problem will take place.”

According to CNA sources, three points were agreed during the meeting as regards the next months. More specifically, it was agreed to prepare a list of the issues discussed and on which there are still differences and to continue discussions on them, to discuss the issues that have not been discussed yet, and to begin preparations so that in case they reach an agreement on a solution, everything will be ready to implement the agreement from the first day that it will enter into force