GC Press: Turkey Blocks UN Effort to Record Cyprus Convergences

Philenews reported that Turkey objected to the United Nations’ plan to formally record the convergences achieved during the negotiation process on the Cyprus issue up to the Crans-Montana Conference. The report said Ankara’s intervention effectively stopped the next step the UN had been preparing to take on the Cyprus file.

According to the newspaper, the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy, María Ángela Holguín Cuéllar, and her team were preparing to raise the idea of drafting a document compiling the convergences achieved so far. This document was said to largely overlap with the approach presented by Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Christodoulides during his joint meeting with Tufan Erhürman and Holguín, which was reflected publicly as a “five-point proposal”.

The UN reportedly intended to use this document as a basis for discussion in any renewed negotiation process. However, the initiative was blocked before even reaching a joint meeting stage. Citing sources described as reliable, Philenews said that Ambassador Burak Özügergin, who is responsible for the Cyprus portfolio at the Turkish Foreign Ministry, visited northern Cyprus on the eve of the Christodoulides–Erhürman–Holguín meeting.

The official reason given for the visit was a “farewell” tour ahead of Özügergin’s appointment as Ambassador to Denmark. In reality, however, the contacts were described as substantive. During the visit, Özügergin reportedly met with Holguín, who conveyed her intention to place on record in writing the convergences achieved in the negotiations. The Turkish side was said to have vetoed the proposal, effectively freezing the process and blocking the possibility of an informal five-party conference.

Philenews wrote that Ankara’s stance indicates that Turkey does not wish to see progress on the Cyprus issue at this stage, while also seeking to avoid assuming responsibility for a new deadlock. In this context, the report claimed that Ankara is guiding the Turkish Cypriot leadership and managing the process in a controlled manner.

“No Change in Turkey’s Two-State Policy”

The report further stated that a new tactical framework, referred to within the Turkish Foreign Ministry as the “Tufan code”, has begun to take shape following the leadership change in northern Cyprus. Turkey has conveyed to its interlocutors that there is no change in its two-state solution policy, citing years of inconclusive negotiations as justification.

According to the same sources, Ankara has told the new Turkish Cypriot leader that he may “try”, but only within a narrow and predetermined framework. This framework is said to rest on four main conditions shaped in Ankara and also includes an element of public perception management.

Turkey’s “Tufan Code” Plan: Erhürman as ‘Good Cop’, Tatar as ‘Bad Cop’

The report said that the perception of “good Erhürman – bad Tatar” has so far worked among external actors, with some foreign governments viewing Erhürman as a figure capable of advancing negotiations. However, it was noted that Erhürman has not responded to initiatives from either the UN or Christodoulides, stating that he needs “time”, a stance reportedly linked to Turkey.

Philenews added that Erhürman does not follow the same line as his predecessor Ersin Tatar or former leader Mustafa Akıncı, particularly in his approach to the European Union. However, he is said to argue that any EU-related process should take place not through the Republic of Cyprus but through a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem.

The report also referred to the Greece–Turkey High-Level Cooperation Council meeting scheduled to take place in Athens and Ankara on February 11. The Crete–Cyprus electricity interconnection project and the Cyprus issue are expected to be discussed, although the likelihood of tangible progress was described as weak.

Finally, the article noted that some Turkish Cypriot groups in the United Kingdom have launched a new initiative to register properties belonging to Turkish Cypriots said to be located in the south. In response, the authorities of the Republic of Cyprus stressed that all property data are already recorded at the Land Registry Department and that such initiatives have no legal standing.