Nami: Past Convergences Could Form Basis of Erhürman–Christodoulides Document

Former Foreign Minister and chief negotiator Ozdil Nami was a guest on the Gundem programme on Kibris Postasi TV, hosted by Ulas Baris. During the programme, Nami evaluated the meeting held yesterday between the leaders and responded to questions regarding the five-point negotiation roadmap proposed by Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Christodoulides.

“THE FIRST POINT OF CHRISTODOULIDES’ FIVE-POINT ROADMAP IS COMPATIBLE WITH ERHURMAN’S TIMETABLE APPROACH”

Nami said the most striking element of the five-point roadmap was the first item, which refers to “confirming the basis for a solution to the Cyprus problem within the framework of references to UN Security Council resolutions and political equality in the joint statement of 11 December 2025.” He noted that if this was approached not as a package but as a step-by-step process, the Turkish Cypriot side should respond positively.

Nami stressed that this approach could allow the United Nations to move the process forward from where it last stalled and that significant progress could be achieved in this way. He added that revisiting past convergences and incorporating President Tufan Erhurman’s four-point methodology, particularly its timetable element, would gain greater meaning through transparency.

“FORMALISING CONVERGENCES UNDER THE TITLE ‘ERHURMAN–CHRISTODOULIDES CONVERGENCES’ COULD BE AN IMPORTANT BEGINNING”

Nami said that work to identify convergences through negotiators and bilateral contacts, and to transform the understandings reached under previous leaders into a document titled “Erhurman–Christodoulides Convergences,” could serve as an important initial exercise. He noted that such a document could be owned by both sides and act as a preliminary step toward a comprehensive settlement plan.

He underlined that this process could provide a launching pad for addressing both core issues and the details contained in the Antonio Guterres Framework, but said that achieving meaningful results would not be possible without Erhurman’s four-point framework.

“ROTATING PRESIDENCY IS AN INDISPENSABLE PRINCIPLE OF POLITICAL EQUALITY”

Nami stated that a settlement model based on political equality would point to a structure different from the Republic of Cyprus established in 1960. He expressed support for Erhurman’s position that “rotating presidency should be accepted in principle within the context of political equality.”

He said rotating presidency is one of the indispensable elements of political equality and that accepting this principle as a prerequisite was natural.

“THE UNITED NATIONS HAS MADE MISTAKES”

Nami argued that holding meetings on Confidence-Building Measures with the participation of guarantor countries was a mistake by the United Nations. He said a more appropriate method would be for the UN to conduct shuttle diplomacy to bring the sides closer together and then convene an expanded conference in line with those convergences.

“THE PRESIDENT IS WORKING WITH A TEAM WELL VERSED IN THE CYPRUS ISSUE”

In concluding remarks, Nami also referred to President Erhurman’s team, saying that Erhurman was working with experienced figures who are well versed in the Cyprus problem. Although he noted that he had not yet held a comprehensive meeting with Erhurman on the issue, Nami said he was always ready to contribute and that his door remained open.