A new wind has been blowing in the Cyprus issue since yesterday afternoon. A wind that originates in Ankara and may well bring a different dynamic to the table.
Fidan in Cyprus
This morning, it was announced that the Turkish foreign minister would visit the occupied territories. Hakan Fidan will arrive on the island tomorrow and meet with the Turkish Cypriot leader in a one-on-one meeting focused exclusively on the Cyprus issue. Although a shift in the narrative regarding two states is not to be expected, it appears that Turkey wants to send its messages before the UN Secretary-General’s term runs out.
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
The new KYSOAA building was inaugurated; Christodoulides’ message
Behind olgin’s visit
“No meeting is expected between Ms. Olgin and Mr. Fidan. His contacts pertain to the consultations between Turkey and the ‘TRNC’ based on the two-state solution.”
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Does the end justify the means?
The personal envoy met with the Turkish Cypriot leader for the second time in 48 hours at noon. She wanted to ask Erhurman some questions as well, just as she did yesterday with the President of the Republic, whom she also met with on an unscheduled basis. Following the uproar this caused, she confirmed that she met with the so-called Turkish ambassador in order to convey a message from Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister Kemal Bonzai.
“I was informed by the Turkish Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs that he had sent me a message via the ‘ambassador.’That is why I came to meet him—simply to receive this message—which I also explained to Mr. Christodoulides.”
María Ángela Olguín
Sources close to Nikos Christodoulides believe that the groundwork is being laid so that, at Monday’s trilateral meeting, the opening of at least one roadblock can be announced. On the table are Mia Milia, Athenou, Louroutzina, and the new proposal to open the Tsakistra Plain toward Karavostasi.
Everything except the “red lines”
The Turkish Cypriot leader makes it clear that he is willing to discuss everything except the “red lines,” which he claims are not included on the current map. While attempts are being made to set the tone, he once again expresses dissatisfaction with the 19 points put on the table by Nikos Christodoulides, arguing that they sideline Guterres’ proposals.
“Honestly, I never got around to reviewing all 19 points. I stopped at about 14 or 15. It doesn’t matter. You want to make people forget those 7 points. And if we start discussing your new 19 points, 2.5 months (until the secretary-general leaves) won’t be enough.”
He makes the implementation of substantive measures of confidence a prerequisite, while inviting the president for coffee either in the free areas or in the occupied areas.
See the report by Evangelos Agapios:
