Nami: Ercan-Varosha Swap Would Undermine Settlement

Speaking on Kıbrıs Postası TV’s “Gündem” programme, hosted by Ulaş Barış, Nami commented on the visit of the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy for Cyprus, Maria Angela Holguín, and the United Nations’ emerging initiative on the Cyprus issue.

He said the main problem in the current process is not content but deficiencies in the “design” of the negotiation framework, arguing that the structural elements of the Annan Plan and the Crans-Montana process should be reconsidered. According to Nami, without a properly structured framework, achieving a lasting settlement becomes difficult.

“The agreement is already on the table; the problem is the method”

Nami said he was concerned by a recent article published in the Politis newspaper regarding the UN initiative, adding that the key issue is a lack of method rather than a lack of agreement.

He argued that the agreement already exists “on the table,” but that there is a missing mechanism to complete the final stage of negotiations.

“A successful negotiation process requires essential components”

Referring to the Annan Plan period, Nami said successful negotiation processes require certain indispensable elements, including a UN framework, a realistic timetable linked to the EU enlargement process, and an arbitration mechanism in case of deadlock. He also noted the existence of referendums as a final decision-making tool.

He said this structure, developed through years of experience, had proven effective in previous negotiation attempts. However, he argued that it collapsed when the Turkish side rejected the negotiation timetable and framework.

“There was a cost element. If we had completed the process in line with the timetable, rejection would have carried a cost in the form of EU accession consequences for Cyprus. That structure needs to be re-established,” he said.

“The problem is not content, but structure”

Nami said the issue is not related to the content of the talks but to the negotiation framework itself. He argued that there is already sufficient convergence between the sides, pointing to Crans-Montana as an example of a leader-led process.

“There is no substantive problem between the parties,” he said, adding that introducing entirely new concepts into the process would be counterproductive.

“Ercan Airport and Varosha exchange proposal”

Nami referred to a frequently discussed idea involving the opening of Ercan Airport to international flights in exchange for the return of Varosha under UN control and its handover to its former residents.

He said such proposals are often presented as a mutual exchange designed to create incentives for both sides ahead of a possible settlement process.

“I cannot foresee what a Greek Cypriot side that has also gained Varosha would vote ‘yes’ to”

Commenting on this scenario, Nami said he does not agree with the logic behind such exchanges.

He argued that while such a deal might be seen as giving both sides tangible gains ahead of a referendum, it could also undermine the motivation for a final comprehensive agreement.

“I cannot foresee what a Greek Cypriot side that has also gained Varosha would vote ‘yes’ to in a subsequent referendum,” he said.

He added that a rejection in a referendum under such conditions could delay a Cyprus settlement for decades, potentially making a future solution even harder to achieve.

“Comprehensive solution could be forgotten”

Nami warned that such approaches could lead to an open-ended process in which each side continues to seek additional gains, rather than focusing on a final settlement.

He said this could shift the Cyprus issue away from a comprehensive solution framework and push it toward a prolonged status quo resembling a “Taiwanisation” of Northern Cyprus.