The possibility of resuming formal talks to repair Cyprus’ decades-old ethnic divisions was threatened on Wednesday, with the leader of the breakaway Turkish Cypriots telling a UN envoy that he saw no common ground with Greek Cypriots to return to talks. Since he said that there was no such thing, it seemed that things had gotten dark.
Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar told Maria Ángela Holguín Cuéllar, personal envoy of the UN Secretary-General, that Cyprus’ independent Turkish sovereignty over the northern third of the island would first be transformed into the Republic of Cyprus. He said that he had told them that negotiations could not be held unless the same international recognition was obtained. Southern Greek Cyprus.
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Despite Turkish Cypriot media reporting that Greek Cypriots are trying to “exclude Turkey” from the reconciliation equation, Tatar insists that Turkey’s permanent military presence, along with the right to intervene, is a prerequisite for a peace agreement. It was reported that he said that.
Tatar also noted that Mr. Holguin is in contact with civil society organizations that support an agreement to reunite Cyprus as a federation of Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot zones, in line with a framework approved by the United Nations. also expressed frustration.
Banners marking the divided island of Cyprus, with Turkish-occupied territory to the north and the Republic of Cyprus to the south, are displayed in front of a blocked road in Nicosia, the divided capital of Cyprus, on Wednesday, May 15. A man walking. 2024. The possibility of resuming formal negotiations to mend Cyprus’ decades-old ethnic divisions has been raised, with the leader of the defected Turkish Cypriots telling a UN envoy that they have nothing in common with Greek Cypriots to return to negotiations. He said he couldn’t find it, so it looked like it was getting dark. (AP Photo/Petros Karagias)
The majority of Greek Cypriots agreed to a two-state agreement formalizing partition, the permanent presence of Turkish troops on the island, the right of Turkish military intervention, and the right of Turkish Cypriots to veto any federal government. refusing the request. level of government decisions.
The Turkish Cypriot leader’s statements do not deviate from the policy he has consistently followed since his administration took office in 2022. But the fact that, after four months of Mr. Holguin’s shuttle diplomacy, he remains unwilling to budge does not bode well for restarting negotiations.
Mr Holguin was appointed earlier this year to judge the possibility of formally resuming negotiations, seven years after the last major push towards a deal collapsed amid much acrimony. .
The agreement ignores repeated U.N.-brokered talks since 1974, when the island was divided along ethnic lines following a Turkish invasion ahead of a coup aimed at unifying the island and Greece. Turkey is the only country that has recognized the Turkish Cypriot declaration of independence, and although Cyprus is a member of the European Union, only the southern region enjoys the full benefits of membership.
Mr Holguin has refrained from detailing his contacts in recent months, but in an interview with Kathimerini newspaper he said it was up to leaders to “listen to the voice of the people” and that the Tatars rejected him. He said he was surprised that he had done so. A proposal for a tripartite meeting with Cypriot President Nicos Christodoulides.
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U.N. Deputy Spokesman Farhan Haq said Holguin will prepare a report “soon” for U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres on the findings of the past five months.
Mr Christodoulides struck a more upbeat note on Wednesday, saying efforts to restart negotiations were continuing and diplomacy should be given time to work.
