Efforts to resolve the longstanding Cyprus dispute encountered another hurdle as Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhürman announced Wednesday that no agreement was reached during talks with Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Christodoulides. The discussions, which took place in the United Nations-controlled buffer zone, primarily focused on confidence-building measures aimed at fostering trust between the two communities.
Erhürman revealed that the dialogue centered on potential steps to advance the negotiation process but ultimately failed to establish new confidence-building measures. He noted that both sides exchanged perspectives on internal and external factors that are currently undermining the trust previously cultivated between them.
Highlighting the importance of a conducive environment for progress, Erhürman echoed the call of UN Secretary-General António Guterres for both parties to introduce new confidence-building initiatives. He cautioned against actions that could further damage the fragile trust, emphasizing the need to create favorable conditions for future discussions.
It was also disclosed that Maria Angela Holguin, who serves as the UN secretary-general’s personal envoy on Cyprus, will be unable to visit the island before the upcoming UN General Assembly due to health issues. This development adds another layer of complexity to the ongoing peace process, which has faced numerous setbacks over the years, including the collapse of reunification talks in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, in 2017.
The Turkish Cypriot side continues to advocate for a two-state solution based on sovereign equality, diverging from previous negotiations that focused on a federal model. Despite the recent impasse, the two leaders are slated to meet again in the UN buffer zone on September 17, although the meeting will proceed without Holguin’s participation.