President Erhürman’s Remarks After Cyprus Leaders Meeting

President Erhürman’s Remarks After Cyprus Leaders Meeting

Press Conference Overview

President Tufan Erhürman addressed the media following his participation in a trilateral meeting in the United Nations buffer zone, attended by Greek Cypriot Leader Nikos Christodoulides and hosted by María Ángela Holguín, the Personal Envoy of the United Nations Secretary-General on Cyprus. During the press conference at the Presidency, President Erhürman described the meeting as beneficial and emphasised his proposal for future tête-à-tête meetings between the two leaders, particularly during periods when Ms. Holguín is not present on the island.

Stance on Negotiation Procedures

President Erhürman made it clear that he would not engage in substantive talks until an agreement on procedural matters was reached. He highlighted the importance of establishing the principles and procedures before moving on to discussions of substance, drawing an analogy to knowing the rules before stepping onto the pitch. The President stressed that previous negotiations lacked a clear procedure, which often led to disappointment. He reiterated that he had never set preconditions but advocated for the necessity of a defined process.

Proposal for Frequent Leaders’ Meetings

The President proposed that the leaders continue to meet even when Ms. Holguín is absent from Cyprus. Mr. Christodoulides welcomed this suggestion and recommended that such a meeting be organised within two weeks. President Erhürman underlined that dialogue and diplomacy are always beneficial, even if the meeting could not be described as highly productive due to the absence of concrete agreements on confidence-building measures.

Greek Cypriot Five-Point Proposal

During the meeting, Greek Cypriot Leader Nikos Christodoulides presented a five-point proposal. President Erhürman noted that these points did not contain any new information; rather, they compiled previously discussed matters. The content of the five points included reaffirming the basis for a Cyprus settlement, the UN preparing and distributing convergences reached up to Crans-Montana to both sides and all five parties, the Secretary-General convening a conference in an expanded format based on this document, and the announcement of the opening of four crossings.

Emphasis on Political Equality and Rotating Presidency

President Erhürman stressed the importance of political equality, effective participation, and a rotating presidency as key elements of his four-point methodology proposal. He asserted that accepting a rotating presidency in principle was fundamental to ensuring genuine political equality. He warned that the absence of a rotating presidency would mean the Turkish Cypriots would never head the proposed structure, referencing the pain experienced during the period of the 1960 Constitution.

Methodology and Time-Frame

The President outlined four main points of his methodology: political equality, effective participation and rotating presidency, a principled acceptance of convergences without delving into their content, and a time-frame principle for negotiations. He clarified that he was not proposing a specific duration for the process but was seeking agreement that negotiations should occur within a defined time limit. President Erhürman emphasised that substance should not be discussed until these procedural principles were agreed upon.

Political Will and Confidence-Building Measures

President Erhürman reaffirmed the Turkish Cypriot people’s political will for a solution, noting that disappointment had frequently occurred due to the lack of agreed procedures. He stressed the continued relevance of confidence-building measures and lamented the lack of meaningful dialogue in the eight years since Crans-Montana. As he approached the third month of his term, President Erhürman highlighted that three meetings had already taken place and reiterated his commitment to making progress.

Improving Daily Lives and the Importance of Diplomacy

The President emphasised the need for the two leaders to meet in Lefkoşa to address issues that could improve the daily lives of both Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots. He suggested that demonstrating the ability to work together on practical matters could pave the way for broader format meetings, such as 5+1. President Erhürman reiterated the importance of diplomacy and dialogue as essential tools for progress.

Commitment to Structured Approach and Future Press Conference

President Erhürman concluded by reaffirming his commitment to a structured approach, stating that he would not move on to substantive discussions until the four procedural points were completed. He expressed his desire for negotiations to lead to a solution, not just to continue for their own sake. The President shared that on 2 February, he would hold a press conference to assess his first 100 days in office, providing a more detailed explanation of each confidence-building measure, including their status, proposals, and reasons for non-implementation.

Final Remarks

As the meeting ended, President Erhürman and Mr. Christodoulides acknowledged their shared responsibility, noting, “We are partners, and either we will both succeed — for both sides, for both peoples — or we will both fail.” The ultimate aim, President Erhürman stated, is to achieve peace and stability for Cyprus, its peoples, and the wider region.

Source: PRESIDENCY OF THE TURKISH REPUBLIC OF NORTHEN CYPRUS

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