US Views Erhürman’s Four-Point Methodology Positively

As discussions continue on the resumption of Cyprus negotiations, significant developments have emerged regarding how President Erhürman’s four-point methodology proposal is being received internationally.

Barış reported that a high-ranking representative of the US Department of State communicated directly with the Presidency and conveyed that the methodology was assessed as “positive, constructive and appreciated.” In particular, the fourth point of the proposal, which foresees that there should be no return to the status quo if negotiations collapse and is framed under the heading of “cost,” has sparked debate both between the sides and within international circles.

Christodoulides: Approaches Including a “Cost” Principle Will Not Be Accepted Internationally

In recent days, Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Christodoulides stated ahead of a meeting attended by the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy for Cyprus, Maria Angela Holguin, that agreement existed on three of the four points of Erhürman’s proposal. However, Christodoulides openly rejected the fourth point, which envisages that there should be no return to the current status quo should the Greek Cypriot side withdraw from negotiations.

He argued that such approaches containing “pre-determined outcomes” would not be accepted by the international community, underlining a serious divergence of views over the principle referred to as “cost,” which aims to deter unilateral withdrawal from the process.

Özdil Nami: If Agreement Is Reached on the “Cost” Principle, the UN General Assembly Must Also Safeguard the Process

Former Foreign Minister and former chief negotiator Özdil Nami, speaking on the Gündem programme broadcast on Kıbrıs Postası TV, made similar assessments regarding the fourth point of Erhürman’s methodology.

Nami said that one of the main reasons negotiations had collapsed repeatedly in the past was the absence of any political or legal cost for the side that abandoned the process. He stressed that international support must be sought and secured on this issue, adding: “Launching another process in which no cost is paid is doomed to fail.”

Nami also stated that following a possible bi-communal agreement, the UN General Assembly should adopt decisions welcoming this principle and safeguarding the negotiation process.

Barış: Senior US Official Described Erhürman’s Methodology as “Positive, Constructive and Appreciated”

Barış further wrote that last month one of the most senior officials of the US Department of State established direct contact with the Presidency and explicitly described Erhürman’s four-point methodology as a “positive, constructive and appreciated” framework.

US Support Counters Christodoulides’ Claim of No International Backing

The contact reported by Barış stands in direct contrast to Christodoulides’ assertion that such an approach would not gain international acceptance. It indicates that the principle of “no return to the status quo,” included under the “cost” heading in Erhürman’s methodology, has not been entirely dismissed at the international level.

The development also suggests that this principle could in the future be supported by United Nations decisions and that the vacuum created by any unilateral withdrawal from negotiations might be addressed through international legal and political mechanisms.

Within this framework, the reported contact is seen not merely as a diplomatic courtesy message, but as a signal of a new international approach aimed at making Cyprus negotiations permanent, binding and irreversible.