Progress is being observed on most of the confidence-building measures agreed during the informal expanded conference in Geneva between President Nikos Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar. These include the appointment of a Technical Committee on Youth and the restoration of cemeteries.

Sources indicate that progress has been made on the majority of the six points agreed in Geneva, such as the creation of the youth committee, maintenance of cemeteries, demining, and restoration of mines. However, formal announcements are expected from both leaders, potentially after their next meeting.

The same sources noted that potential dates have been proposed for the next meeting between the two leaders, both for this week and after Easter, and a response is now awaited from the Turkish Cypriot side.

Negotiations are ongoing regarding the opening of new crossing points, according to the same sources.

It is recalled that, following the informal expanded Geneva conference, UN Secretary-General António Guterres announced that the two leaders had agreed on several confidence-building initiatives. These included the opening of four new crossing points, demining, the creation of a Technical Committee on Youth, initiatives on the environment and climate change, solar energy production in the buffer zone, and the restoration of cemeteries.

Earlier this month in Nicosia, the two leaders announced that they had agreed to establish a Technical Committee on Youth, composed of 12 members from each side under the age of 35. They committed to submitting the list of members to the United Nations by April 15. In addition, they agreed to hold discussions on demining at the level of the Greek Cypriot Negotiator and the Turkish Cypriot Special Representative, and to work on initiatives related to the environment, climate change, and cemetery restoration.

They also tasked their representatives with continuing discussions on new crossing points and the use of solar energy in the buffer zone.

According to the statement, the leaders agreed that demining would be discussed at the level of the Greek Cypriot Negotiator and the Turkish Cypriot Special Representative, and that information would be exchanged regarding an equivalent number of suspected hazardous areas on both sides.

As for the crossing points and solar energy production in the buffer zone, the leaders instructed their representatives to continue discussions "with the aim of reaching a mutually acceptable solution."