United Nations Envoy Maria Angela Holguin is set to arrive in Cyprus on Tuesday and begin her latest round of meetings. The EU has expressed full support for her efforts and those of the UN to find a lasting solution to the Cyprus problem. Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar has withdrawn consent for a compromise on a federal basis and is working on a roadmap with the OIC to end isolation imposed on the Turkish Cypriot people.
Fact: Holguin will meet President Nikos Christodoulides again to discuss next steps regarding the Cyprus problem.
President Nikos Christodoulides’ stance on the Cyprus problem has not yielded any substantial results. Akel leader Stefanos Stefanou criticized the President’s approach and emphasized the need for seriousness, consistency, collectivity, and a policy based on principles and concrete planning. Stefanou also highlighted the importance of verifying the fate of all missing persons and providing support for their relatives.
Maria Angela Holguin, the United Nations Envoy, will return to Cyprus at the beginning of May. She will meet with President Nikos Christodoulides to discuss efforts to restart negotiations from where they were interrupted in Crans Montana in 2017. Ersin Tatar insists that her duties come to an end after six months since her appointment as UN Envoy.
Fact: The Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar believes that the European Union should stop being a slave to the Greek Cypriot side in the Cyprus problem.
Fact: Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar stated that only a state solution can be the solution to the Cyprus problem during a meeting with the UN Secretary-General.
Turkish Cypriot opposition politicians are against the open-ended peace process favored by President Nikos Christodoulides and support a two-state solution. There is no common ground for negotiations, and a target date for completion of talks is necessary for success. The UNSG’s envoy must find common ground urgently to prevent failure.
Ersin Tatar, the Turkish Cypriot leader, stated that negotiations will not begin without acceptance of sovereign equality and equal international status. He emphasized that talks will not start from where they left off in Crans Montana and clarified that reports of proposals from the UN Secretary-General do not correspond to reality. Tatar also mentioned consultations with Turkey and reiterated the need to lift isolation and embargoes imposed on Turkish Cypriots. He expressed opposition to resolution 186 of 1964 and emphasized the support of Turkey in their policy.
The first day of fuel price increases has caused long queues at the Agios Dometios checkpoint towards the occupied areas, extending up to one kilometre away.
– Consultations at a technocratic level with Germany regarding a possible reference text on EU-Turkish relations are underway, aiming for inclusion in the conclusions of an upcoming EU summit.
– President Nikos Christodoulides made these statements upon his arrival at the European Council.
– Christodoulides welcomed the inclusion of a reference to the Cypriot initiative for a maritime corridor to Gaza in the conclusions on the Middle East.
– He discussed specific next steps on the Cyprus issue with UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, expressing hope for developments by April towards resuming talks.
– Ongoing discussions follow Germany’s proposal to include a paragraph on EU-Turkey relations in the summit conclusions.
– Christodoulides had meetings with the Chancellor of Germany and the President of the Council, followed by consultations at a technocratic level.
– He emphasized the importance of positive developments in EU-Turkish relations that also involve Cyprus, advocating for a step-by-step approach with an enhanced role for the European Union.
– Other member states, including France, have shown interest in the consultations regarding EU-Turkey relations and Cyprus.
– The Cypriot initiative for a humanitarian corridor to Gaza was praised by all heads of states at the European Council, highlighting Cyprus’s role in the region.
– Christodoulides had a productive meeting with the UN Secretary-General, discussing the next steps on the Cyprus issue and hoping for developments within April.
– He expressed satisfaction with the European Council’s conclusions on security and defence, including the announcement of appointing a Commissioner for Defence in case of the current President of the Commission’s re-election, emphasizing the importance of advancing in defence and security matters for the EU’s strategic autonomy.