Intensive discussions are currently underway on opening four new crossing points on the island, as part of a year-long effort by the two leaders to achieve progress that could lead the sides to an enlarged conference and the start of peace talks, Politis has learned.
Meanwhile, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan is reportedly coming to the island near the end of the week to discuss the latest developments with Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhürman.
With UN Personal Envoy María Ángela Holguín continuing her flurry of contacts in Cyprus, the sides seek to reach agreement on new crossings, among other lower-level trust-building measures, that could be announced at the next trilateral with the envoy on Monday.
According to information, discussions are focused on: Mia Mila, Athienou-Pyroi-Aglandjia, Louroujina-Lymbia, and a fourth addition that has been brought to the table as a substitute for the more challenging Kokkina crossing.
It is believed that Kokkina, proposed by President Nikos Christodoulides, is proving difficult to agree on due to its nature as a Turkish military enclave. Instead, the Greek Cypriot side has reportedly proposed opening a crossing point connecting Kambos in the Troodos area with Karavostasi on the northwest coast, which would sit between two other crossings – Limnitis to the west and Lefka to the east.
Holguín’s shuttle diplomacy continues
The UN envoy met for a second time with Erhürman on Wednesday to discuss crossing points, following their last meeting on Monday. This came after her second meeting with Christodoulides on Tuesday, and the more controversial meeting at the Turkish ‘embassy’ in the north, with Ankara’s top diplomat there, Ali Murat Başçeri.
Speaking after her meeting with Erhürman on Wednesday, Holguín said she discussed with the Turkish Cypriot leader how work could continue in view of Monday’s joint meeting with the leaders.
Asked about her meeting with Başçeri, which the government described as “unacceptable and unfortunate”, Holguín said she had been informed by Turkey’s Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs that a message had been sent to her via the Turkish ‘ambassador’.
“That is why I came to meet him, simply to receive this message, something I also explained to Mr Christodoulides,” she said.
Politis understands that the deputy minister is Mehmet Kemal Bozay, who also serves as director of EU affairs at the ministry.
While the manner of receiving the message might not have been liked, its contents appeared to indicate room for progress on the issues at hand. Christodoulides told reporters on Tuesday that it allowed for the UN envoy’s contacts to continue while creating prospects for progress.
Broader meetings with stakeholders
Apart from her back and forth with the two leaders and a Turkish diplomat, Holguín has also been doing the rounds, meeting with some political parties, all five ambassadors of the permanent members of the UN Security Council, the bicommunal Standing Committee of the Consultative Body for Civil Society Engagement, the Technical Committee on Youth and former Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akıncı.
The UN envoy has not been shy to express optimism in public, as well as behind closed doors that some kind of progress could be recorded.
Her next known meetings are with the mayors of occupied Famagusta and Morphou on Saturday, and with the two mayors of divided Nicosia on Monday, as well as the critical trilateral meeting with the two leaders, also on Monday.
Fidan on his way
According to Turkish Cypriot press reports, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan will be coming to the north on Thursday or Friday to discuss developments on the Cyprus issue with Erhürman.
The fact he’s coming now at a time when there is a rare uptick in momentum with a view to some steps forward raises questions on what message he wants to give, at least behind closed doors.
According to Kıbrıs Postası however, Fidan is expected to reiterate Ankara’s policy of a two-state solution based on sovereign equality and equal international status. Political circles told the outlet that neither the visit nor Holguín’s meeting with Başçeri signified any change in Ankara’s approach to a settlement or the negotiating framework. The main focus of Fidan’s visit will be to examine possible steps that can be taken within the framework of Ankara’s current policy on Cyprus, sources told Kıbrıs Postası.
Citing sources, the Turkish Cypriot media outlet said that a meeting between Fidan and Holguín is not on the agenda.
Erhürman critical of Christodoulides’ 19 proposals
Meanwhile, in an interview with Özgür Gazete Web TV, Erhürman acknowledged Holguín’s role of building bridges between the two sides.
“The fact that she says she is optimistic indicates that she believes she can build those bridges,” he said.
He repeated his claim that UN Secretary-General António Guterres tabled seven “UN proposals” during his visit to Cyprus, while Christodoulides came up with 19 points that he never shared in writing.
He questioned why Christodoulides waited so long to raise these points, questioning whether they even numbered 19.
“If you expect solutions to these within two and a half months, then it is obvious that this is not realistic.”
Erhürman added that, although he listened to Christodoulides discussing his proposals and took notes, he could not arrive at a total of 19 proposals.
On crossing points and maps
Erhürman said when he took office, the maps from the New York’s 5+1 on crossing points showed Louroudjina-Lymbia and Mia Milia marked in red, and Athienou-Pyroi and Aglandjia in blue. Kokkina was not on the map, he said.
While he would have preferred opening Kaimakli or Famagusta Gate crossings first, he did not wish to bring new crossing to the table before resolving existing ones. He said he was not against discussing Kokkina after resolving the crossings already under discussion.
He argued that the Louroudjina and Mia Milia crossing points would be used by both communities while the Athienou-Aglandjia crossing would simply make it easier for Greek Cypriots travelling from Larnaca to reach Nicosia.
On the Varosha-Famagusta port proposal, he argued that ships already go to Famagusta port. The issue is to implement the EU Direct Trade Regulation which was one of three regulations promised to Turkish Cypriots during the Annan Plan period, he argued.
Akıncı laments current state of affairs
Meanwhile, In a post on social media, Mustafa Akıncı referred to his meeting with the UN envoy, noting that after two lost opportunities in 2004 and 2017, “negotiations are now taking place on how negotiations themselves can be restarted.”
Whereas before they were close to a settlement, now opening a crossing point is considered a “significant step forward”.
“When UN Secretary-General Guterres took office 10 years ago, Cyprus was at a point close to a settlement. Now, he will be handing over a Cyprus that is far from a settlement, where even a negotiating table cannot be established,” said Akıncı.
