During recent discussions between the leaders of the Turkish and Greek Cypriot communities, no consensus was reached on implementing new confidence-building measures, according to Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhürman. The talks, held on Wednesday in the United Nations-controlled buffer zone, aimed to advance the ongoing efforts to address the Cyprus dispute. Despite the hourlong meeting with Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Christodoulides, both sides could not align on any new initiatives designed to foster trust and cooperation between their communities.
Erhürman elaborated that the dialogue revolved around how to propel the negotiation process forward through confidence-building measures. However, he noted that there were differing opinions on the internal and external actions perceived to be eroding the trust that had been established. Emphasizing the importance of a conducive environment for progress, Erhürman highlighted the call from UN Secretary-General António Guterres for both parties to introduce new measures while refraining from actions that could further impede mutual trust.
Adding to the challenges facing the negotiations, Erhürman mentioned that Maria Angela Holguin, the UN secretary-general’s personal envoy on Cyprus, would not be visiting the island before the UN General Assembly as initially planned due to health issues. The peace process in Cyprus has encountered multiple obstacles over the years, notably the breakdown of reunification talks in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, back in 2017. The Turkish Cypriot leadership continues to advocate for a two-state resolution based on sovereign equality, contrasting with prior negotiations that concentrated on establishing a federal system.
The dialogue between the two Cypriot leaders is set to continue, with a follow-up meeting scheduled in the UN buffer zone on September 17. This upcoming session is expected to proceed without the presence of Holguin, as her participation is hindered by her current illness. Both sides remain engaged in this complex negotiation process, striving to find common ground and move towards a long-awaited resolution of the Cyprus conflict.