The Cypriot leaders, Nikos Christodoulides and Ersin Tatar are awaiting an invitation from the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, which is expected to shed light on his upcoming strategy regarding the Cyprus issue. This invitation may arrive before September, signalling the Secretary-General’s intention to tackle the matter this autumn.
Both sides are aware that the Secretary-General will be reviewing a report by Maria Angela Holguin Cuellar before inviting the leaders to a meeting, where he will outline his future plans. This meeting could be proposed for the summer, depending on the Secretary-General’s readiness to address the Cyprus issue.
The UN Secretary-General is likely to take a two-pronged approach: firstly, he will invite both leaders to a meeting where he will communicate his intentions and set expectations for Christodoulides and Tatar. Secondly, after clarifying the next steps with the leaders, he intends to engage in substantive discussions.
President Christodoulides expressed optimism, stating his belief that a significant effort will soon be made to achieve the goal of ending the occupation and reunifying the island. He also indicated his readiness to meet with the UN Secretary-General to discuss the path forward.
The Greek Cypriot government spokesperson, Konstantinos Letymbiotis, affirmed the eagerness of the Greek Cypriot side to positively contribute and aid the resumption of negotiations.
The Turkish Cypriot side has not made any notable statements regarding the submission of the Holguin report on Cyprus. Ersin Tatar continues to repeat his demands as a precondition for dialogue, maintaining a rigid stance.
However, the intentions of the Turkish side may become clearer during Erdogan’s planned illegal visit to the occupied areas this Saturday. Through the celebrations of the 50th anniversary of the Turkish invasion, Erdogan is likely to hint at his next steps regarding the Cyprus issue.
In the meantime, the Cypriot Ministry of Foreign Affairs has positively acknowledged the UN Secretary-General’s commitment to his Reports on Good Offices and the Peacekeeping Force, and the need to make progress towards launching substantive and targeted negotiations to resolve the Cyprus dispute, also alluding to his policy of maintaining equal distances between both sides.
According to a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the Secretary-General’s Reports to the Security Council, they note the Secretary-General’s observation that “despite the importance of the Technical Committees and the positive impact of the Confidence Building Measures (CBM), only the substantial progress towards restarting negotiations for a mutually acceptable settlement can assure Cypriots and the international community of a common and peaceful future in Cyprus.”
The Ministry also highlights the significance of the Secretary-General’s continued adherence to the Security Council resolutions, which outline the UN parameters for a Bicommunal, Bizonal Federation solution.
The statement brings attention to violations by the Turkish occupation forces in the buffer zone, specifically in Pyla, occupied Famagusta, Strovilia, and the wider Nicosia area.
However, they also point out that the consistent approach of maintaining equal distances and attributing equal responsibility to both sides can lead to a lack of objectivity in representing the situation on the ground and fails to adequately portray the ongoing Turkish occupation and violation of Cyprus’s territorial integrity since 1974.
Additionally, the Ministry expresses disappointment in the understated references to humanitarian issues, such as the living conditions of enclaved individuals and the matter of missing persons, which “downplay the severity of the situation and the responsibilities of Turkey as the occupying power”.
In an interview with ‘Kathimerini’ of Athens, President Christodoulides emphasised that the Greek-Turkish rapprochement is beneficial to the efforts to resolve the Cyprus issue.
He stressed that restarting the dialogue is key, and if achieved, a mutually acceptable solution can be within reach for both Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots.
Regarding the next steps, Christodoulides is confident that with a fresh approach and a stronger focus on the geopolitical dimensions, negotiations can be restarted.
