Nicosia: Cyprus President, Nikos Christodoulides, has reported encountering three refusals from Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar during their meeting in Nicosia under UN auspices. The meeting, intended to address ongoing tensions and unresolved issues between the two sides, saw significant time consumed by discussions on arrests in the Republic of Cyprus related to the usurpation of Greek Cypriot land in the Turkish-occupied territories.
According to Cyprus News Agency, President Christodoulides highlighted the significance of the first meeting of the bicommunal Technical Committee on Youth, noting that the proposal for its establishment was submitted two years ago. The Greek Cypriot side had previously accepted the proposal, while the Turkish Cypriot side had not. The President expressed hope for tangible outcomes from the committee’s work.
The leaders also agreed on a project involving the cleaning and restoration of 30 specific cemeteries, divided equally between the free areas and Turkish-occupied areas of Cyprus. The initiative marks a step forward in collaborative efforts, alongside some progress made on environmental issues.
However, President Christodoulides revealed that Tatar rejected specific proposals regarding crossing points, including the opening of a pedestrian crossing in Nicosia. Additionally, a previously agreed plan concerning the allocation of treated water from the Mia Milia wastewater treatment plant is not being implemented, despite a financial agreement.
Despite the setbacks, President Christodoulides remains committed to ongoing government initiatives aimed at involving the international community to restart talks. He emphasized his determination to pursue developments, acknowledging the challenges but maintaining a clear focus on the goal of resolving the Cyprus problem.
The meeting also addressed the issue of arrests by the Republic of Cyprus authorities for usurpation of Greek Cypriot properties in the occupied area, a topic that dominated a significant portion of the discussions. President Christodoulides reiterated Cyprus’s stance as a democratic nation that does not interfere with its judiciary, highlighting the situation as an example of legal independence.
No new meetings have been scheduled following this encounter. However, UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy, Mara Angela Holgun, is expected to arrive in Cyprus before the end of the month, with hopes that further dialogue will be initiated.
Cyprus has been divided since the 1974 Turkish invasion, with numerous UN-led peace talks failing to resolve the longstanding conflict. The latest negotiations in Crans-Montana in 2017 ended without agreement. The UN plans to hold another informal meeting on Cyprus in late July, with aims to build on initiatives such as the creation of crossing points and other collaborative projects across the island.