On Wednesday, Turkey reiterated its stance for a two-state solution in the long-disputed region of Cyprus, coinciding with upcoming meetings by the United Nations aimed at reigniting formal discussions to address this enduring conflict. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan emphasized that Cyprus should focus on achieving a two-state agreement, dismissing alternative solutions as ineffective and a waste of time.
In a press conference following his discussions with Ersin Tatar, the leader of the self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus—a state recognized solely by Turkey—Fidan reiterated his position. The division of Cyprus originated in 1974 after Turkey’s military intervention, which followed a coup aimed at merging the island with Greece. The latest significant attempt at a peace agreement fell apart in 2017.
Turkey’s advocacy for a two-state framework stems from the desire to ensure that the Turkish Cypriots are not marginalized in any conceivable political arrangement. Conversely, Greek Cypriots oppose this notion, fearing it would legitimize the division of the island and entrench a permanent Turkish military presence there. Greek Cypriot officials argue that Turkey’s demands, particularly concerning the retention of a significant number of troops and military intervention rights, were major obstacles that led to the breakdown of negotiations in 2017.
International entities like the U.N. and the European Union have dismissed the concept of a two-state solution, advocating instead for a federation model that involves both Turkish and Greek Cypriot regions. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is set to preside over an informal meeting in Switzerland in March, aimed at gathering inputs from various parties about their visions for a potential peace agreement. An envoy from Guterres previously indicated that there appears to be a lack of consensus necessary for resuming negotiations.
The Greek Cypriot President, Nikos Christodoulides, has expressed his readiness to engage in formal discussions without delay. However, he has clearly stated that he will not entertain the idea of a two-state arrangement. Tatar mentioned that the forthcoming meeting will convene representatives from both sides along with the foreign ministers of the “guarantor powers,” Greece and Turkey, along with a senior official from the United Kingdom, to delineate future steps concerning the resolution of Cyprus’ status.
Successfully achieving a peace agreement would not only quell ongoing tensions in the eastern Mediterranean but may also facilitate the exploration of natural gas reserves located within Cyprus’ disputed offshore economic zone, an area that has been a point of contention with Turkey.
