The failure of the process—which began following a long period of silence in the Cyprus negotiations—to make rapid progress had led to the talks edging towards collapse through a series of small steps.
Unable to see the conditions necessary to launch a process leading to a comprehensive solution, UN Secretary-General Guterres continues to explore the option of taking a step forward through confidence-building measures.
The decision to open two new checkpoints serves as a token to prevent the talks from collapsing. I hope that the trilateral meeting and the subsequent five-party meeting will go beyond the UN Secretary-General’s efforts to add even a small measure of value to the Cyprus issue during his own term of office.
Following the announcement that the two checkpoints would be opened, all eyes turned to COP31 in Turkey; unfortunately, it concerned us not as a climate conference but in relation to the Cyprus issue.
The matter was approached through questions such as whether Christodoulides, as President of the Republic of Cyprus, would travel to Turkey and whether there would be any contact with Turkish President Erdoğan.
The Greek Cypriot press criticised Erdoğan for not receiving Christodoulides. Had he welcomed him, the Turkish Cypriot press would have criticised that too.
The meeting between the UN Representative for Cyprus and Turkey’s Ambassador to Nicosia, followed a week later by Christodoulides’ visit to Antalya, reignited concerns that Turkish Cypriots in the north of the island were being sidelined.
The fact that President Erhürman was invited to COP31 by the host country, Turkey, serves as some consolation.
The Greek Cypriot leadership continued to voice its complaints to the UN and the EU, having failed to receive the attention it expected. Viewed through a straightforward lens, it is justified. However, from the perspective of Turkey’s official stance on the Cyprus issue, even this invitation pushes the boundaries.
Relations between Turkey and the Republic of Cyprus are already developing in commercial terms. If the parties are making an effort to understand one another, it is beneficial for the dialogue to develop along these lines.
Beyond their inability to participate in international forums, there are few who are considering the Turkish Cypriots at a time when events to be held on the island are being blocked by initiatives from the Greek Cypriot leadership. This policy, conducted within the framework of the Greek Cypriot policies established regarding the Cyprus issue, is leaving a bitter taste even amongst those who desire a federal solution, and faith in a resolution is eroding. Unfortunately, the effects of the extent to which this isolation has reached are not being sufficiently discussed.
What remains from the two developments that took place within a week is the decision to open two checkpoints that fail to meet expectations in terms of needs. As I mentioned in the headline, this stands as a mere ‘make do’ tokens. Unless concrete, new and modest developments occur by the New Year, I suspect we will once again enter a period of silence.
