The two Cyprus leaders discussed the substance of the Cyprus issue and confidence-building measures extensively in their first substantive meeting on Thursday, with a UN communiqué referencing Security Council resolutions for the first time since October 2020.
The three-hour meeting between President Nikos Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhürman used language that satisfies both sides, according to the communiqué issued by the United Nations.
The communiqué stated that the leaders agreed that the real goal is solving the Cyprus issue with political equality as described in UN Security Council resolutions.
It also noted that confidence-building measures are important for creating a favourable environment, but do not replace achieving a Cyprus solution.
The language satisfies the Greek Cypriot side regarding the reference to UN resolutions and the Turkish Cypriot side regarding political equality.
The meeting was held in a positive and friendly atmosphere, according to the UN. The leaders exchanged views on a broad range of issues aimed at creating a climate favourable to settlement and achieving a Cyprus solution.
They conducted a stock-taking of previously agreed confidence-building measure initiatives, discussed new ideas and agreed to focus on achieving agreements as soon as possible, particularly on opening new crossing points, the halloumi issue and pipeline construction from the water treatment plant in occupied Mia Milia.
The leaders also agreed to increase personnel for services at crossing points and welcomed road widening works at the Agios Dometios crossing, which are expected to be completed in the coming months.
Both leaders confirmed their commitment to attend the next informal meeting in wider format to be convened by the UN Secretary-General, according to the communiqué. They committed to continue working in Cyprus to produce tangible results for the benefit of Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots and to ensure the success of the next informal meeting.
The leaders expressed willingness to meet as often as needed and instructed their representatives to continue regular meetings.
Before the meeting, the leaders visited the Committee on Missing Persons’ anthropological laboratory in Cyprus.
Christodoulides expresses satisfaction
President Christodoulides expressed satisfaction after the meeting, calling it “a very good meeting after a long time”, according to his statements to reporters.
He noted that the first part of the meeting, which took most of the time, concerned substantive discussion on the Cyprus issue, hence the specific reference in the UN communiqué to UN Security Council resolutions.
The president said they conducted a review of confidence-building measures discussed at previous expanded conferences and agreed to focus on specific issues.
The first priority amongst the measures is the Cyprus Republic’s discussion with the European Commission on halloumi, the second is pipeline construction for water transfer from the Mia Milia sewage treatment plant in the free areas for use in agriculture and the primary sector – an agreement that has existed since 2011 but did not proceed – and the third is strengthening personnel at checkpoints.
Christodoulides raised a number of issues which the Turkish Cypriot leader undertook to answer more specifically at the next meeting, including issues concerning missing persons and the CMP’s work, enclaved persons, the Maronite community, the Armenian community, place names in occupied areas, and taxation imposed by the occupation regime on products transferred from free to occupied areas.
He also raised the issue of access without procedures and restrictions to churches in occupied areas, especially restored churches within the framework of the relevant Technical Committee for culture.
Next steps in Athens and Ankara
Asked when the informal five-party meeting could take place, which would serve as a springboard for resuming negotiations, Christodoulides said the joint communiqué makes specific reference to the expanded conference and both leaders look forward to it.
The timing will be decided after meetings that UN official María Ángela Holguín will hold in Greece on Saturday, where she will see the Greek prime minister and foreign minister, he said.
He recalled earlier phone communication with the Greek prime minister and noted that Holguín will travel to Turkey from Greece.
After these meetings, particularly with the Turkish foreign minister, it will be possible to speak more specifically about the date of the expanded conference, he said. From his side, he added, even next week he would be ready to travel and participate in such an expanded conference.
EU factor and Hahn’s role
The time has come for results on the Cyprus issue, EU special envoy for Cyprus Johannes Hahn said during his meeting with President Christodoulides on Thursday morning at the Presidential Palace.
“I believe it’s time for results. After so many difficult moments, I believe there is now an opportunity, I won’t say the last opportunity, but there is an opportunity,” Hahn said. The EU official will meet with the Turkish Cypriot leader on Friday.
Addressing Christodoulides, Hahn said “Europe relies very much on you to find a good relationship with the Turkish Cypriot leader, so that the road opens, not only for the resumption of talks but also to find a definitive, positive solution” to the Cyprus issue.
“Be sure that if it depends on me, we will succeed,” the president responded.
In welcoming Hahn, in the presence of Deputy Minister for European Affairs Marilena Raouna, Christodoulides said: “We are happy to have you in this new effort and we really hope that my meeting today (with the Turkish Cypriot leader), but also your contacts – I’m glad you will finally meet with the Turkish Cypriot leader – will open the road for the resumption of talks.”
He added: “We lost 2.5 years and now is the time to discuss substance. I go to today’s meeting with the goal of resuming talks from where they stopped in summer 2017. And EU involvement, your involvement, can help open the road for the resumption of talks and of course for the Cyprus solution.”
After their meeting, which lasted over one and a half hours, Hahn said it was a very good meeting. “We agreed, and I can’t say more, beyond that now is time to achieve results. We know what needs to be done and I’m very optimistic that a solution can be found in due time. Everyone must work hard for this, but it’s feasible. When there’s will, there’s result,” he said.
Deputy Minister Raouna, who attended the president’s meeting with Hahn, said the meeting was particularly productive and constructive.
“We welcome the fact that the actions of the European Union and Mr Hahn are being intensified regarding the Cyprus issue,” she said, noting that Hahn briefed about a series of contacts he had with EU foreign ministers, which continue and will continue in the immediate future. She noted that Hahn is also making efforts to visit Ankara within the framework of his mandate on Cyprus.
Raouna said it is particularly important that Hahn will meet with the Turkish Cypriot community leader. She noted that “there cannot be a comprehensive Cyprus solution without the European Union, precisely because the Cyprus Republic is an EU member state.”
