Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhürman has said his side does not want another 5+1 meeting simply to repeat previous processes, arguing that the conditions for success should first be established through contacts and confidence-building efforts in Cyprus.
In a Facebook post ahead of his visit to New York for meetings with UN Secretary-General António Guterres and his Personal Envoy María Ángela Holguín, Erhürman said any renewed process should ultimately lead to a settlement rather than negotiations for their own sake.
Third meeting with Guterres
Erhürman said his forthcoming meeting with Guterres would be their third during his 11 months in office, noting that the Secretary-General had taken a series of initiatives and made several assessments concerning the Cyprus issue during that period.
According to Erhürman, one of Guterres’ key objectives has been the convening of another expanded 5+1 meeting, with significant progress having been made towards that goal.
He also referred to confidence-building measures, saying the Secretary-General expects substantive progress across several areas.
These include new crossing points, demining, responses to natural disasters and irregular migration, the creation of joint cooperation mechanisms and the issue of Cypriot and, consequently, EU citizenship for children of mixed marriages.
Erhürman also referred to establishing joint committees dealing with sport and civil society.
‘A lot of work’ remains
The Turkish Cypriot leader highlighted recent remarks by Guterres that there is still “a lot of work” to be done before another 5+1 meeting can take place.
He also underlined the Secretary-General’s warning that mistakes made in previous processes should not be repeated.
“As we always say, after so many unsuccessful experiences, we do not think it is right to hold a 5+1 simply for the sake of holding a 5+1, nor to have negotiations simply for the sake of having negotiations,” Erhürman said.
Focus on preparing conditions for success
According to Erhürman, the Turkish Cypriot side wants an expanded meeting whose prospects of success have already been strengthened through contacts and discussions held in Nicosia.
The objective, he said, is to establish a negotiating process that “this time will lead to a solution, in accordance with the will of our people”.
Erhürman also recalled Guterres’ position following Crans-Montana that “this time it must be different”.
He linked that statement to the Secretary-General’s more recent warning that mistakes of the past must not be repeated.
Confidence-building and methodology
Erhürman said the Turkish Cypriot side therefore attaches particular importance both to progress on confidence-building measures and to the methodology of any renewed negotiating process.
“For this reason, we attach importance to progress on confidence-building measures and methodology, as also reflected in the Secretary-General’s own statements,” he said.
Concluding, Erhürman argued that the Turkish Cypriot side’s approach is aligned with that outlined by Guterres.
“In summary, we are on the same page as the Secretary-General’s approach,” he said. “As we have done until now, we will continue to support his efforts throughout the remainder of his term.”
