On Wednesday, Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhürman and Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Christodoulides met to discuss the Cyprus issue, but their talks did not yield an agreement on new confidence-building measures. The meeting, which took place in the United Nations-controlled buffer zone, was centered on finding ways to advance the negotiation process through these measures. However, both sides were unable to come to a consensus on new initiatives.
Erhürman highlighted that while they shared views on both internal and external actions, these discussions pointed to factors eroding the trust previously established between the two communities. He emphasized the necessity of fostering a constructive environment for progress, as encouraged by UN Secretary-General António Guterres. This, he noted, would require a commitment from both parties to implement new confidence-building measures and refrain from actions that could further damage their mutual trust.
In a related development, Maria Angela Holguin, the UN Secretary-General’s personal envoy on Cyprus, is unable to visit the island ahead of the UN General Assembly due to health issues. Her absence underscores the ongoing challenges faced by the Cyprus peace process, which has encountered numerous obstacles, including the breakdown of reunification negotiations in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, in 2017.
The Turkish Cypriot leadership continues to advocate for a two-state solution grounded in sovereign equality, contrasting with previous negotiations that aimed at a federal model. The leaders of the two communities are slated to reconvene in the UN buffer zone on September 17. The forthcoming meeting is expected to proceed without Holguin’s involvement, as they persist in their efforts to bridge differences and seek a lasting resolution to the Cyprus dispute.