In an effort to advance the Cyprus peace process, Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhürman and Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Christodoulides met on Wednesday but were unable to reach an agreement on new confidence-building measures. The leaders convened for an hour in the United Nations-controlled buffer zone, where they focused their discussions on enhancing mutual trust and finding ways to move forward in negotiations.
Erhürman expressed disappointment over the failure to agree on new measures, noting that both sides had shared their perspectives on internal and external actions that were undermining the trust already established between the communities. He emphasized the importance of creating a conducive environment for progress, echoing UN Secretary-General António Guterres’s call for new measures and the avoidance of actions that could further erode mutual trust.
Adding to the challenges faced in the peace process, Erhürman mentioned that Maria Angela Holguin, the UN Secretary-General’s personal envoy on Cyprus, would be unable to visit the island before the upcoming UN General Assembly due to illness. This development comes against the backdrop of previous setbacks, including the collapse of reunification talks in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, in 2017.
The long-standing Cyprus dispute has seen divergent approaches from the two sides. The Turkish Cypriot leadership continues to advocate for a two-state settlement based on sovereign equality, while earlier negotiations focused on a federal model. Despite the stalemate, both leaders are scheduled to meet again in the UN buffer zone on September 17, though without Holguin’s participation.