Nicosia, Cyprus. Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman said on Monday that diplomatic engagement on the Cyprus problem has resumed, while warning that expectations of a rapid breakthrough are unrealistic. He said talks continue at a technical level despite limited high-profile political developments.
Technical-level negotiations
Speaking to Turkish media, Erhurman said negotiations between the two sides have not stopped and continue at a technical level. “Negotiators continue to meet weekly and the talks have not been interrupted,” he said.
Guterres visit to Ankara and peace prize
Erhurman referred to the recent visit of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to Ankara, where he was awarded the Ataturk international peace prize by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. He said the award had long been planned and should not be interpreted as a sign of new diplomatic developments directly connected to the Cyprus issue.
Meeting with Turkish foreign minister
Erhurman also addressed the meeting between Guterres and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, cautioning against attaching excessive significance to the encounter. “As can be seen in Antonio Guterres’ statement, there is diplomatic activity,” he said, adding, “It is not like the situation before our elections.”
Regional tensions
Erhurman said wider regional tensions have affected the diplomatic environment and slowed momentum around the issue. “In fact, if a state of war had not arisen, this activity could have accelerated even more,” he said, referring to instability ushered in by the US-Israeli conflict with Iran.
What do you think the continuation of weekly technical talks could mean for the next phase of the Cyprus problem?
