During recent discussions between Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhürman and Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Christodoulides, efforts to establish new confidence-building measures failed to yield an agreement. The talks, held in the United Nations-controlled buffer zone, focused on ways to advance the negotiation process and strengthen mutual trust between the two communities.
Erhürman highlighted that the hourlong meeting was primarily dedicated to discussing confidence-building efforts, but the two sides could not reach a consensus on new initiatives. He noted that both internal and external actions were currently undermining the existing trust between the communities. He emphasized the necessity of fostering a positive environment for progress, as advocated by UN Secretary-General António Guterres, by introducing fresh confidence-building measures and refraining from actions that could further erode mutual confidence.
In addition, Erhürman mentioned that Maria Angela Holguin, the personal envoy of the UN secretary-general for Cyprus, would be unable to visit the island before the upcoming UN General Assembly due to health issues. Her absence might influence the dynamics of the ongoing peace process, which has faced numerous challenges over the years.
The Cyprus peace efforts have encountered persistent obstacles, notably the breakdown of reunification negotiations in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, in 2017. The Turkish Cypriot leadership continues to advocate for a two-state solution based on sovereign equality, whereas earlier negotiations predominantly focused on a federal model.
The two leaders are scheduled to reconvene on September 17 in the UN buffer zone. This upcoming meeting is expected to proceed without the participation of Holguin, potentially affecting the dialogue as both sides strive to find common ground to resolve the longstanding Cyprus dispute.