Nicosia, Cyprus. Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman said on Monday that the Turkish Cypriots’ will for a solution to the Cyprus problem is clear and that they support the efforts of United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. He also said recent media reports about a “looser” solution included significant unfounded and baseless discussion.
Support for UN efforts
Erhurman said the Turkish Cypriot side supports the efforts of the United Nations secretary-general within the framework of the people’s will for a solution. He said the Turkish Cypriot people have demonstrated that will many times before.
Response to media reports
He said numerous articles and news reports on the subject have been published in the Greek Cypriot press in recent days, but added that the Turkish Cypriot side is explaining its views to all relevant parties in line with the methodology and principles it has repeatedly shared with the public.
Erhurman said all sides know that the intention is not to negotiate for the sake of negotiating, but to negotiate for a solution. He added that the Turkish Cypriot side will not enter into an open-ended process that would not yield results and would ultimately return to square one.
Discussion in the south
He said he understands that discussions in the south regarding a solution to the Cyprus problem are becoming increasingly intense, whereas previously the situation was generally the opposite. However, he said a significant proportion of those discussions are completely unfounded and baseless.
Erhurman said the issue is being taken seriously and that there is no intention to play games through the media. He said the Turkish Cypriot side is calm, composed and patient, and is consistently and steadily explaining the framework and approach it has presented.
Reference to past disappointments
Erhurman said the Turkish Cypriot people experienced great disappointments in 2004 and 2017, referring to the failure of the Annan plan referendum and the collapse of negotiations in Crans-Montana, Switzerland. He said they will never allow the public to experience another disappointment in 2026.
He added that some ideas are currently being put forward, but said nothing has reached a level of significance that would warrant public discussion, let alone acceptance.
Role of the parties in a five-plus-one meeting
Erhurman said initiatives regarding the Cyprus issue are being evaluated by many international actors. He added that when a “five-plus-one” is mentioned, the final say belongs to the two sides and the three guarantor countries.
A “five-plus-one” refers to an enlarged meeting on the Cyprus problem involving the island’s two sides, the three guarantor powers Greece, Turkey and the United Kingdom, and the United Nations. The next such meeting is expected to take place either late next month or in early August.
