Efforts to resolve the longstanding Cyprus dispute hit a roadblock as Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhürman and Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Christodoulides failed to agree on new confidence-building measures. After their meeting in the United Nations-controlled buffer zone, Erhürman reported that the discussions centered on how to advance negotiations, but no new measures were agreed upon. The leaders exchanged views on actions they believe are undermining the trust already established between the communities.
Erhürman emphasized the importance of fostering a conducive environment for progress, a sentiment echoed by UN Secretary-General António Guterres. Both sides, he noted, need to implement new confidence-building strategies while avoiding actions that could further erode mutual trust. The meeting comes against the backdrop of previous setbacks in the Cyprus peace process, notably the failure of reunification talks in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, in 2017.
A key point of difference remains the vision for a settlement: the Turkish Cypriot side maintains its support for a two-state solution based on sovereign equality, in contrast to previous negotiations that focused on a federal model. Erhürman reiterated these positions during the discussions, highlighting the ongoing challenges in reaching a consensus.
In a related development, Maria Angela Holguin, the UN secretary-general’s personal envoy on Cyprus, will be unable to visit the island before the UN General Assembly due to illness. Her absence may impact the momentum of the talks as the two leaders prepare to meet again in the UN buffer zone on September 17. The next round of discussions is expected to proceed without Holguin’s involvement.