Nicosia: Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides on Sunday expressed optimism that upcoming discussions with the new Turkish Cypriot leader, Tufan Erhrman, will bring clarity on how to progress with the Cyprus issue. He highlighted that the United Nations would announce meeting details on Monday.
According to Cyprus News Agency, President Christodoulides, speaking after a memorial service in Nicosia, refrained from making public comments on the Turkish Cypriot leader’s recent statements during his visit to Turkey. He emphasized that the Cyprus issue, being a national matter, cannot be resolved through public declarations alone.
President Christodoulides remarked on the significance of the forthcoming meeting, believing it will clarify the path forward, specifically aiming to resume negotiations halted in 2017. He stressed the importance of maintaining focus on the substance of the discussions rather than engaging in public discourse.
When questioned about Erhrman’s preconditions for negotiations, President Christodoulides indicated that while he has responses to all issues, public negotiation is not the appropriate avenue due to the seriousness of the matter. He noted that genuine commitment from the Turkish Cypriot leader and Turkey to the agreed framework would be crucial for positive progress.
Cyprus has remained divided since 1974 following Turkey’s invasion and occupation of the northern part of the island. Despite numerous UN-led peace talks, a resolution has remained elusive, with negotiations last stalling in 2017 at Crans-Montana, Switzerland.
Efforts to revive talks have continued, with informal meetings hosted by the UN Secretary-General in 2025. Mara Angela Holgun, the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy on Cyprus, and former European Commissioner Johannes Hahn, acting as Special Envoy for Cyprus, are involved in facilitating the settlement process.