The two leaders appeared all smiles after their first meeting at the UN Protected Area, having agreed to meet again in the presence of the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy María Ángela Holguín next month.
Both President Nikos Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhüman spoke of ‘positives’ after the nearly one-and-a-half hour meeting at the old Nicosia airport. While the former highlighted the need to focus on the goal of resuming talks from where they left off, his counterpart tabled a list of proposals to improve the climate between the two sides, while stressing there will be no formal talks without his four-point proposal on the methodology to be adopted.
According to a UN statement, Holguín spoke to the two leaders and their representatives via teleconference at the very start of the meeting.
The first leaders’ meeting, facilitated by UN Special Representative Khassim Diagne, included negotiators Menelaos Menelaou and Mehmet Dana, who Erhüman announced as his 'representative' for the talks after the meeting.
New joint meeting and preparations for 5+1
The two leaders agreed to have a joint meeting with Holguín when she will be on the island in early December and expressed their readiness to work towards the next expanded format, including the three guarantor powers, to be convened by UNSG António Guterres. They instructed their representatives to hold regular meetings in preparation for both Holguín’s visit and the expanded ‘5+1’.
Both leaders agreed to explore other opportunities for joint meetings at the leaders’ level.
According to sources, Christodoulides and Erhüman appeared to get on very well and both seemed positive about their future meetings.
Speaking on his return, Christodoulides described the outcome as “positive”. He referred to the fact the two leaders agreed to meet with Holguín after her bilateral meetings, first with Erhüman on December 5, and the following day with Christodoulides.
He noted that organising a joint meeting was not always so simple in the past, a clear reference to the more challenging dynamics under Tatar.
Christodoulides also described as ‘positive’ the fact that the two negotiators will start regular meetings to discuss the issues raised by each side in the meeting, as well as to prepare for the joint meeting with Holguín and the ‘5+1’. He noted the UN personal envoy will visit Greece and Turkey after Cyprus.
Under Erhüman’s predecessor, Ersin Tatar, although his negotiator Güneş Onar and Menelaou were supposed to meet every week, this was not the case.
The president said he told Holguín he is ready to hold the expanded 5+1 meeting before the end of the year, as originally planned.
EU Special Envoy coming
He noted that European Commission Special Envoy for Cyprus Johannes Hahn – appointed last May – will also be coming to the island for contacts in December.
Hahn reports directly to the Commission President. His mandate is to contribute to the settlement process within the UN framework and in close cooperation with the UN personal envoy. It’s fair to say that his role has not been fully embraced by the Turkish Cypriot side and Ankara who do not see the EU as an honest broker, pointing to the fact Cyprus and Greece are member states.
At the same time, the EU has invested €728 million in the north since 2006 and plans to double its annual aid programme to the Turkish Cypriot community to over €60 million.
Asked if the EU’s special envoy will meet with the Turkish Cypriot leader, Christodoulides said he would not speak to Erhüman’s schedule.
Basic goal – return to talks
Clarifying that the two leaders did not engage in negotiations, the president stressed as positive the fact that “we are entering a procedure with the basic goal of resuming negotiations from where they left off at Crans-Montana”.
He noted that the confidence-building measures promised to Guterres in the previous enlarged format meetings were also discussed on Thursday and are considered “important”.
Christodoulides highlighted the fact that the negotiators will meet regularly to start preparing the ground for the next steps, adding: “For me, what I take from this is the recognition of the importance of finally resuming substantive negotiations. This is where we will all be judged, this is where the real prospects will become evident.”
Regarding talk of proposals he submitted in the meeting, the president did not wish to elaborate saying only that positive moves and the avoidance of negative moves can help lead to a resumption of talks.
Erhüman’s 10-point package of proposals
According to Turkish Cypriot news outlet Kıbrıs Postası, on his return north, Erhürman said his first meeting with the Greek Cypriot leader took place in a sincere, positive and constructive atmosphere, noting that he tabled a ‘10-point package’ of proposals, ranging from crossing points to halloumi.
The outlet quoted Erhürman saying that the two leaders had a tete-a-tete for the last 15 minutes of the 90-minute meeting. He said the two granted full authority to their negotiators to meet at necessary intervals to continue exchanging views on the issues set out and other matters that may come up. The leaders also agreed to meet again if necessary, and to maintaain constant communication by phone, said Erhürman.
Speaking at a press conference , Erhürman said the issues raised between his predecessor Tatar and Christodoulides in New York last July remain on the table for discussion, and that reaching certain understandings before a 5+1 meeting, and even before Holguín's arrival, would contribute positively to creating a 'solution atmosphere' on the island. He set as a priority the opening of new crossing points and the solar panel project.
Regarding the package of proposals aimed at creating a solution-oriented atmosphere, he outlined the points as covering the following issues:
• Mixed marriages and the right to citizenship; Allowing non-Cypriot spouses to drive Turkish Cypriot-registered vehicles in the south; Allowing certain persons born in the north to cross to the south
• A three-booth crossing arrangement at Ayios Dhometios; Joint participartion of the two leaders in the launch of road-widening works in the buffer zone at Ayios Dhometios
• Facilitating procedures at the Zodia and Deryneia crossings
• Friendly matches for children under 14 under the Youth Technical Committee
• A joint visit by the two leaders to the Committee on Missing Persons
• Discussion of negative effects of arrests and judicial processes related to property
• Difficulties encountered in trade under the Green Line Regulation
• Authorising Bureau Veritas Paris regarding halloumi and establishing a new technical committee
• Re-establishing the EU Ad-hoc Committee abolished after Crans-Montana
• Creating a communication channel between security forces.
Four-point proposal on methodology
According to Kıbrıs Postası, Erhürman said he shared his four-point proposal on the methodology of future peace negotiations in the meeting, a likely reference to his demands on accepting political equality from the outset, setting a timeframe for talks, confirming past convergences and ensuring there is no return to the status quo if the talks fail and the Greek Cypriot side is deemed responsible.
Asked about Christodoulides' statement that negotiations will continue where they left off at Crans-Montana, Erhürman noted the Greek Cypriot leader expressed his wish. However, the Turkish Cypriot position on this was clear:
“Unless we reach agreement on the four methodological proposals, entering into any comprehensive negotiation process is out of the question.”
At the same time, he argued that these proposals, based on UN Security Council decisions and statements, are not preconditions but suggestions that would allow the process to proceed differently.
On the prospects of a new '5+1', he highlighted the need to reach certain points before convening the meeting, to ensure results this time.
Erhürman said Christodoulides did not put any formal demands on the table, though during their tete-a-tete, the two exchanged views on how to resolve the crossing points issue.