Nicosia believes that the hourglass that will break the deadlock in the Cyprus issue is running out; it expects a first wave of developments in the next 72 hours, with the official resumption of of the talks.

Announcements regarding a possible five-party meeting will be made toward the end of the month, and not before. This is because the Secretary-General’s personal envoy is expected to return to Nicosia, most likely on July 21, following the “black anniversaries,” with the aim of advancing the process through meetings with the two leaders, while also carrying messages in her briefcase from António Guterres.

“It was decided by the Secretary-General that the effort will focus on substance rather than the terms of reference, without ruling out that the discussion on the issues we addressed in previous meetings will continue.”
Menelaos Menelaou – Greek Cypriot Negotiator

While the date of the Personal Envoy’s visit is expected to be finalized, the two negotiators are meeting separately with special United Nations committees to prepare for the dialogue. According to reports, they are focusing on aspects related to the points of convergence and divergence in the Cyprus issue.

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Christodoulides and Erhurman may first discuss the matter privately in Cyprus under the watchful eye of the personal envoy, and then at the expanded roundtable.

Reference to the Cyprus Issue

Diplomatic sources from EU countries and NATO members such as Greece are assuring the Presidency that a first wave of developments on the Cyprus issue will follow once the summit in Turkey on Wednesday.

The presence of European institutions in Ankara and the meeting between Ursula and Costa with Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will be decisive at a time when Turkey is protesting its marginalization by the wider European family. The European Council itself has indicated that the Cyprus issue will be on the agenda.

“The three leaders (Von der Leyen, Costa, and Recep Tayyip Erdoğan) are expected to exchange views on regional developments, and in particular on the ongoing diplomatic efforts by the UN Secretary-General to resolve the Cyprus issue,”
European Council

Olgin’s meetings in Brussels on the 13th of this month remain crucial.

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“Lawsuits are not the solution”

Against the backdrop of the arrest of a Lithuanian real estate agent in France for embezzlement, the Turkish Cypriot leader takes issue with the Greek Cypriot side, demanding that it turn a blind eye to illegal activities.

“It is not possible to resolve the property issue through lawsuits filed by Greek Cypriots against Turkish Cypriots or vice versa. The priority of the Greek Cypriot administration is not to find a legal solution but to turn it into a tool for political and economic pressure.”
Tufan Erhurman

He also refers to the so-called compensation committee, which he considers the only legal recourse.

See the report by Evangelos Agapios: