Slovakia’s Foreign State Secretary Ratislav Chovanec expressed hope on Friday that the leaders of the two communities in Cyprus would find “sufficient political courage, goodwill and statesmanship” to move closer to a lasting, viable and just solution of the Cyprus problem.

Speaking at a ceremony at Ledra Palace hotel in the Nicosia buffer zone, to mark the 36th anniversary of the bicommunal dialogue between political parties facilitated by the Slovakian embassy, Chovanec said “it seems that the window of opportunity for the Cyprus problem is once again slightly open”.

Chovanec said the meetings of the political parties from both sides was supportive of the peace process and constituted “a long-term and systematic – perhaps sometimes underestimated – confidence-building measure sui generis”.

On Slovakia’s role as an “impartial moderator”, Chovanec said “our only ambition is to contribute to the rapprochement of both communities, maintaining good relations between them and facilitating their mutual dialogue,” which for almost four decades “has proved to have no hidden agenda”.

UN special representative and head of Unficyp Colin Stewart said improving understanding between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot sides was “fundamental”.

He said the dialogue between the political parties “has served to promote communication between the sides” and in difficult times served as “the only channel of communication”.

Stewart also said “we have some new opportunities” and referred to the forthcoming visit of the UN chief’s personal envoy Maria Angela Holguin “to prepare the next steps on the political process”.

During the ceremony, Chovanec presented a cheque for €10,000 as Slovakia’s contribution to the Committee on Missing Persons (CMP).

He then laid a wreath at the Unficyp memorial in commemoration of the two members of the Slovak armed forces, who were among 187 peacekeepers who lost their lives while serving in Unficyp.

Chovanec and Stewart also symbolically watered the “Tree of Peace” which was planted last year at the memorial site by Slovakia’s foreign minister on the occasion of the 35th anniversary of the bicommunal dialogue between Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot parties.