In a recent meeting held at the United Nations-controlled buffer zone, Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhürman and Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Christodoulides were unable to reach a consensus on new confidence-building measures essential for progressing the Cyprus peace talks. The hourlong discussions were centered on identifying ways to rejuvenate the negotiation process aimed at resolving the longstanding Cyprus dispute.
Erhürman highlighted that the two sides could not agree on new measures and shared their perspectives on internal and external factors undermining the trust between the communities. He underscored the importance of creating a conducive environment for progress, as advocated by UN Secretary-General António Guterres. This, he noted, would require both parties to introduce new confidence-building measures and refrain from any actions that could further erode mutual trust.
The meeting also touched upon the absence of Maria Angela Holguin, the UN secretary-general’s personal envoy on Cyprus, who is unable to visit the island before the UN General Assembly due to illness. Her absence adds another layer of complexity to the already challenging peace process, which has been marred by setbacks including the collapse of reunification negotiations in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, in 2017.
The Turkish Cypriot side continues to advocate for a two-state settlement based on sovereign equality, whereas past negotiations have been oriented towards a federal model. Despite the differences, both leaders are slated to meet again in the UN buffer zone on September 17, with the upcoming meeting expected to proceed without Holguin’s involvement.