The Guterres visit to Cyprus is being presented by Turkish media as a critical diplomatic effort, but one that is not expected to introduce a new plan for resolving the Cyprus issue.
Turkish newspapers Hürriyet and Sabah have focused heavily on Ankara’s position, stressing that Turkey has not changed its stance and continues to promote a two-state solution as the only realistic option.
Hürriyet highlights historic visit
Hürriyet described UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ presence in Cyprus as “critical” and “historic”, highlighting that he is the first UN chief to visit the island in 16 years.
The newspaper reported that Guterres is attempting, before the end of his term, to support a final effort to restart the Cyprus settlement process.
However, Hürriyet dismissed speculation that the UN Secretary-General would present a new settlement proposal, describing such scenarios as “Greek Cypriot speculation”.
According to the newspaper, the purpose of the visit is to strengthen existing UN efforts and assess whether there is room for a resumption of talks.
Focus on meetings and confidence-building measures
Turkish media also highlighted the role of UN Personal Envoy María Ángela Holguín, who reportedly rejected claims that Guterres was carrying a new plan.
The newspapers referred to Guterres’ separate meetings with President Nikos Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhürman, as well as the planned trilateral meeting under UN auspices.
Hürriyet suggested that the UN chief would explore whether progress could be made on confidence-building measures.
The newspaper added that positive developments could potentially pave the way for a new informal multilateral meeting involving the two sides and the three guarantor powers – Turkey, Greece and the United Kingdom.
Ankara’s position repeated by Sabah
Turkish newspaper Sabah also highlighted the Turkish government’s position, stating that Ankara maintains its two-state solution approach without changes.
The newspaper reported that the Turkish Cypriot side had prepared extensively for Guterres’ visit and that its actions were coordinated closely with Turkey.
It cited Erhürman’s statement that preparations were carried out in consultation with Ankara.
Sabah also repeated the Turkish side’s position that Turkish Cypriots are a “constituent element” of the island rather than a minority, arguing that they would never accept such a status.
No expectations for immediate breakthrough
Hürriyet presented the current deadlock as the result of the Greek Cypriot and Greek sides’ insistence on a federal solution and restarting negotiations from where they ended in 2017.
By contrast, Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot side are portrayed as believing that the same process cannot continue following the failure of the Crans-Montana conference.
The Turkish media once again highlighted Ankara’s longstanding demand for recognition of “sovereign equality” and an “equal international status” for Turkish Cypriots before formal negotiations begin.
Overall, the picture presented by Turkish newspapers is that the Guterres Cyprus visit carries significant diplomatic and symbolic importance, but does not create expectations for an immediate restart of substantive negotiations.
Hürriyet focuses more on the diplomatic process, meetings and the possibility of a new informal conference, while Sabah places greater emphasis on the political messages from Ankara and the Turkish Cypriot side.
Also read: Guterres begins new round of Cyprus talks with President and Erhürman
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