Tufan Erhürman: The Homework for the 5+1 Meeting Is Clear, We Are Ready

President Tufan Erhürman has said the Turkish Cypriot side is prepared for a new 5+1 meeting on the Cyprus issue, arguing that the "homework" outlined by UN Secretary-General António Guterres is clear and requires no further interpretation.

In a social media post, Erhürman referred to Guterres' remarks before leaving the island, in which the UN chief said both sides and the guarantor powers had agreed in principle to convene a new 5+1 meeting, provided sufficient preparatory work is completed.

Quoting Guterres, Erhürman highlighted that the required preparations include confidence-building measures, methodology and substantive issues, adding that the UN Secretary-General had made it clear he did not want another inconclusive 5+1 meeting but one that would pave the way toward a settlement.

Erhürman said those remarks left "no room for interpretation."

He added that the Turkish Cypriot side had already informed Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Christodoulides, in Guterres' presence, that it was ready to hold weekly meetings if necessary, noting that the same position had been reiterated during a press conference immediately after the talks.

Erhürman also criticised approaches that, in his view, claim to support a settlement while effectively defending the status quo, as well as proposals to prolong the process by debating where negotiations should begin.

"We are moving forward step by step. The 'homework' is clear beyond any doubt. We are ready in line with our people's will for a solution, and we have said so openly. The rest is just empty talk," he said.