Plans to open two new crossing points at Mia Milia and along the Athienou–Pyroi–Aglantzia route have been left for a possible trilateral meeting between the two Cypriot leaders and the UN Secretary-General, which could take place in late November or early December.
Highly informed sources told Phileleftheros that President Nikos Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhürman had agreed to leave any announcement concerning the two crossings until the conclusion of their meeting with UN Secretary-General António Guterres.
At least until last Monday, when the two leaders met UN envoy María Ángela Holguín, the understanding was that an agreement on the two crossings would be reached and announced during the trilateral meeting.
However, much will depend on Ankara’s position and the instructions it gives Erhürman.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan’s visit to the occupied north a week ago appears not to have produced the expected results, prompting Nicosia to remain cautious despite Guterres’s determination to secure an announcement on the resumption of peace negotiations.
An agreement to open the Mia Milia and Athienou–Pyroi–Aglantzia crossings is expected to help the UN Secretary-General announce a new expanded conference in December.
Nicosia facilitates contacts with Brussels
Phileleftheros has learned that Nicosia has helped facilitate contacts between Turkish Cypriot representatives and officials in Brussels, contrary to the impression Erhürman has sought to convey publicly.
According to our information, Mehmet Dana met a representative from the office of European Council President António Costa during a recent visit to Brussels.
Before the meeting was arranged, Nicosia was consulted and gave its approval.
The move challenges Turkish Cypriot accusations that the Republic of Cyprus obstructs direct contacts with European institutions.
Christodoulides also raised the matter during his meeting with Erhürman, according to information obtained by Phileleftheros.
Nicosia’s decision is particularly significant in relation to the three demands pursued by the Turkish Cypriot side, commonly referred to as the three Ds.
By facilitating direct contacts, the Republic of Cyprus has demonstrated that it is prepared to accommodate at least one of those demands.
The same approach could potentially extend to other meetings sought in Brussels, including contacts involving Erhürman himself.
Why Famagusta matters
Christodoulides’ proposal concerning Famagusta is also linked to the Turkish Cypriot demand for direct trade.
If the Turkish Cypriot side accepts the proposal under the conditions set by the president, it would offer a way to address that demand.
An agreement on Famagusta could allow the city’s port to operate, giving Turkish Cypriots access to direct trade.
However, Christodoulides made clear to Erhürman that the Republic of Cyprus would not accept the demand for direct flights.
He explained that agreeing to direct flights would amount to recognition of the breakaway entity, effectively bringing the Cyprus problem to an end on those terms.
Awaiting the UN Secretary-General
Speaking ahead of Friday’s informal European Council meeting in Dublin, Christodoulides said a date for the trilateral meeting would be set once Guterres returned from the Philippines.
The aim, he said, was to announce further positive developments alongside a specific date for an expanded conference, at which the resumption of negotiations from where they broke down in Crans-Montana in 2017 would be announced.
According to Christodoulides, the objective is twofold.
“On the one hand, we want to see more positive developments and announcements concerning confidence-building measures and methodology, while at the same time announcing a specific date for the expanded conference,” he said.
The president also expressed optimism about European Commission Executive Vice-President Raffaele Fitto’s visit to Ankara, following his communication with Fitto and discussions with Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
“We want to see positive developments in EU-Turkey relations, positive developments that could materialise if there is progress on the Cyprus problem,” Christodoulides said.
Nicosia has made clear, with the European Commission sharing its position, that progress in EU-Turkey relations requires Ankara to agree to the resumption of Cyprus negotiations from where they broke down.
Christodoulides therefore clarified that a positive response on EU-Turkey relations would not be linked simply to broader developments concerning the Cyprus problem, but specifically to the resumption of negotiations.
