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- The Greek Cypriot side says it is ready for direct negotiations, while Erhürman is reported to be steering talks away from core Cyprus issues.
- Recent negotiators’ discussions and the Turkish Cypriot response to more frequent leader meetings produced no sign of significant progress.
- Little progress is expected on opening new crossing points or advancing other confidence-building measures on the agenda.
- The government says its aim remains a return to substantive negotiations from where they ended in summer 2017, with stronger EU involvement.
Expectations for a breakthrough in the Cyprus talks are declining as President Nikos Christodoulides prepares to meet Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhürman on Wednesday afternoon.
The Greek Cypriot side has publicly made clear that it is ready to move towards direct negotiations. Erhürman, however, is seeking to steer discussions away from the core issues of the Cyprus problem, according to the report.
The latest meeting between negotiators Menelaos Menelaou and Mehmet Dana did not indicate that significant developments should be expected.
There was also no response from the Turkish Cypriot side to a Greek Cypriot proposal for more frequent meetings between the two leaders.
Little progress expected on crossing points
Based on the current situation and the position of the Turkish Cypriot leadership, progress on opening new crossing points would come as a surprise.
Those closely following the Cyprus talks do not expect developments on this issue or on the other confidence-building measures currently on the agenda.
Government signals constructive approach
Christodoulides has avoided making public comments on the Cyprus issue in recent days, with ministers instead conveying the government’s position.
Agriculture Minister Christos Senekis said the Greek Cypriot side would continue to act with consistency, credibility and a willingness to cooperate.
He said Christodoulides would approach the August 26 meeting with a positive and constructive attitude, ready to discuss issues that could contribute to progress.
Senekis acknowledged the difficulties and positions that remain outside the agreed framework.
“Through persistence, consistency and clear political will, we will continue working so that the current momentum can be transformed into meaningful progress,” he said.
He added that, following a prolonged period of deadlock, renewed activity had emerged around the Cyprus issue.
The involvement of UN Secretary-General António Guterres, his recent visit to Cyprus and his decision to convene a new expanded meeting following the necessary preparatory work had created a new prospect, which he said the government approached with cautious optimism.
Aim remains return to negotiations
Senekis said the objective remained clear: to resume substantive negotiations from where they broke off in summer 2017.
He also highlighted the importance of stronger EU involvement, noting that the push for a more active European role had gained concrete form through the appointment of the European Commission’s Executive Vice-President as the EU Special Envoy for the Cyprus issue.
Dispute over diplomatic contacts
The report says Erhürman has been seeking to develop a separate agenda, including social events such as music festivals and tournaments.
While seemingly unrelated to politics, such initiatives are viewed by the Greek Cypriot side as potentially being used by the Turkish Cypriot administration to promote the image of a separate entity in the north.
A similar issue arose after diplomatic missions accredited to the Republic of Cyprus were invited to a meeting with Mehmet Dana about the Cyprus issue.
The invitation included symbols of the Turkish Cypriot administration and its so-called “presidency”.
The government subsequently contacted the diplomatic missions, not to prevent them from attending, but to advise them to avoid actions that could allow the Turkish Cypriot administration to use such events for political upgrading.
Foreign diplomats accredited to the Republic of Cyprus already meet Erhürman directly to hear his views on the Cyprus issue.
Erhürman accuses Greek Cypriots of pressure
Erhürman reacted to the government’s position on the diplomatic briefing, accusing the Greek Cypriot side of attempting to prevent the international community and diplomats from receiving information.
In one of his recent statements, he described the meeting between Dana and diplomats as a confidence-building measure.
In a post on Sunday, Erhürman said the Turkish Cypriot side had expected challenges once its willingness for a solution became apparent.
He accused the Greek Cypriot side of attempting to “play with their nerves” through actions including efforts to cancel festivals and prevent the international community and diplomats from meeting and hearing the Turkish Cypriot side.
Erhürman said he would continue with patience, calmness, seriousness and determination.
He added that the Turkish Cypriot leadership would continue its initiatives, statements and contacts intensively, in line with what he described as the “people’s” desire for a solution and cooperation with the international community.
Missing persons remain priority
Meanwhile, the Cyprus government continues efforts on humanitarian issues, including the fate of missing persons.
Education Minister Athena Michaelidou said determining the fate of every remaining missing person remains a top priority for the government.
Representing President Christodoulides at a memorial service in Agios Thomas, Michaelidou said the Republic of Cyprus would continue seeking meaningful pressure from the international and European communities on Turkey to end the humanitarian tragedy of missing persons.
She called for documented answers in every individual case, describing this as the minimum duty owed to the families.
Michaelidou said legal and diplomatic efforts by the government, in coordination with families, had so far led to the exhumation and identification of some of the 1,619 missing persons.
On efforts to resolve the Cyprus issue, she reiterated that the Greek Cypriot side had the genuine political will to return to negotiations immediately as part of a properly prepared process.
“The highest and non-negotiable priority remains finding a solution within the agreed framework,” she said.
The Cyprus talks now move towards Wednesday’s meeting with expectations for immediate progress remaining limited.
Also read: Can the two leaders deliver? The high stakes of the August 26 Cyprus talks
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