Leaders and representatives of Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot political parties participating in the bicommunal dialogue under the auspices of the Embassy of the Slovak Republic in South Cyprus met on Wednesday at the Ledra Palace Hotel for their routine monthly meeting.

They expressed opinions on the topic proposed by the hosting party AKEL: The need for efficient initiatives aiming to break the prolonged deadlock in the Cyprus Problem”.

According to the joint communiqué issued after the meeting, the representatives collectively acknowledged that the ongoing lack of negotiations exacerbates the unacceptable and divisive status quo.

They emphasized that the current impasse could be resolved through new initiatives by the leaders of both communities.

The parties expressed their support for the efforts of the United Nations Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy and agreed on the importance of resuming negotiations for a federal solution based on UN parameters.

The political representatives at the Ledra Palace also expressed their desire to meet the UNSG Personal Envoy during her next visit to Cyprus.

The meeting also highlighted the need to enhance societal dialogue at various levels.

The political representatives stressed that initiatives aimed at fostering empathy, cooperation, and a federal culture among the people of Cyprus are crucial.

Promoting collaboration in areas such as education, culture, science, environment, and gender equality was identified as vital to achieving these goals.

The participating political parties affirmed that their work could significantly contribute to this direction.

Additionally, the parties agreed on the necessity of peace in the region, emphasizing the urgency of ending the war in Gaza.

They called for a two-state solution to the Palestinian issue based on relevant UN resolutions. They envisioned Cyprus as a bridge of peace in the region amidst these developments.

The next meeting of the leaders and representatives of the political parties is scheduled for Wednesday, July 31, 2024, with the United Cyprus Party as the hosting party.

Notably, the Greek Cypriot Cyprus Green Party and the Turkish Cypriot Democrat Party opted out of the Joint Communiqué.