Nicos Christodoulides, the Greek Cypriot president, and Ersin Tatar, who heads the Turkish Cypriots, issued a statement acknowledging their inability to reach a decision. They have directed their negotiators to persist in the dialogue and announced their intention to reconvene “in the coming days.”
The meeting, which lasted nearly two hours at the residence of Colin Stewart, the head of the U.N. peacekeeping mission in Cyprus, aimed to negotiate arrangements for new crossing points along a 180-kilometer (120-mile) stretch of the U.N.-administered buffer zone running through the island.
Despite their discussions, no new crossing points were announced upon concluding the meeting. The joint statement emphasized that both leaders recognize the importance of these crossings in enhancing interpersonal interactions, strengthening economic connections, and building trust.
The impasse seems to revolve around the locations of the proposed crossing points, which are regarded as advantageous for both sides. Christodoulides noted that Tatar dismissed a proposed site, stating he was “not ready” to agree on a suite of eight trust-building initiatives, which included establishing joint youth committees and a Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
“The timeline hinges on when the Turkish side is prepared to proceed,” remarked Christodoulides.
Tatar emphasized that the introduction of more crossing points would significantly alleviate traffic issues at the solitary vehicle crossing currently available in the capital. He mentioned that a follow-up meeting with Christodoulides is anticipated before the second week of February.
Currently, there are eight crossings along the buffer zone, allowing daily movement for individuals from both sides, especially for Turkish Cypriots who commute for work since the initiation of crossings in April 2003.
Both communities express a desire for additional crossing points to facilitate quicker commutes across the boundary established in 1974, following Turkey’s invasion shortly after a coup aimed at uniting the island with Greece.
Turkey is the only nation recognizing the Turkish Cypriot declaration of independence, maintaining approximately 35,000 troops in the northern region of the island.
Establishing an agreement on crossing points would have bolstered U.N. initiatives to restart formal negotiations aimed at addressing the island’s ethnic division after a seven-year standstill. In March, the U.N. plans to convene Christodoulides and Tatar alongside senior representatives from the island’s guarantor nations — Greece, Turkey, and the United Kingdom — in Switzerland to discuss revitalizing the negotiations.
However, concerns arise from Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots’ rejection of a U.N.-endorsed proposal seeking Cyprus’s reunification as a federation, opting instead for a two-state solution. This stance has muted expectations for any potential peace agreement.
The Greek Cypriots resist any proposal that would formally divide the island and oppose Turkey’s request for permanent military presence and intervention rights on the island.
