Erhurman says Cyprus settlement requires Turkey’s approval

Nicosia, Cyprus. Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman said on Wednesday that no Cyprus settlement could take effect without Turkey’s approval, while saying conditions were emerging for a renewed round of negotiations.

He also called for result-oriented talks and said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres had asked him and President Nikos Christodoulides to meet at least once a week.

Turkey’s role

“A 5+1 meeting is not possible without Turkey,” Erhurman said in an interview in the north.

“No solution agreement to which Turkey does not say yes can come into force,” he said, adding that the same principle applied to the other guarantor powers.

Prospects for negotiations

Erhurman said recent international developments had created a perception “for the first time” that a settlement of the Cyprus problem was necessary.

He said that “ground is beginning to form for renegotiation”.

Erhurman described Guterres’ recent visit to Cyprus as successful and rejected claims that it was solely a farewell visit.

“Saying that he came for a vacation and farewell is as wrong as saying that he came for a solution,” he said.

Confidence-building measures

Erhurman said he wanted “result-oriented negotiation” rather than talks for their own sake.

He said Guterres had assigned tasks to the two sides and asked Erhurman and Christodoulides to meet at least once a week.

Discussions on confidence-building measures had focused on crossing points and demining, he said. Erhurman accused Christodoulides of changing proposals on crossing points that had been agreed in New York.

Settlement form

Erhurman said the sides should focus on “the content, the transitional period and the steps that will facilitate the life of the communities”, rather than debating formalities such as the name of a settlement.