That… seems to have been the outcome of the nearly four-hour trilateral meeting held between Olgin, Christodoulides, and Erciyuman.
As the News Director of Alpha Cyprus, George Kaskanis, noted in his remarks on our station’s Central News Bulletin, the outcome was merely that Olgin did not declare the talks a deadlock, as she appeared ready to do.
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
It was just enough for President Christodoulides to maintain a semblance of progress, and just enough for Tufan Erhurman to show that he is doing something, without, however, straying from the framework set for him by Turkey.
READ ALSO: “An important step has been taken”: The President’s assessment of the meeting with Olgin-Erhurman and his response to those who question the 19 proposals
It is positive that there is some movement, even if only on peripheral issues. It is also positive that a new trilateral meeting is being planned in the presence of the UN Secretary-General.
But what is the key issue in the Cyprus problem right now?
The resumption of substantive talks.
Is there such a prospect?
The answer, given the current circumstances, is no.
READ ALSO: These two roadblocks are being cleared following the meeting between Olgin, Christodoulides, and Erciyaman
This is because the Turkish side remains committed to the two-state solution—a position reiterated this morning by Tayyip Erdoğan —but our side, too, is not particularly convincing in its support for a federation, especially given the fluid geopolitical landscape we are currently facing.
Ms. Olgin’s reference to external actors who wish to maintain the status quo was by no means irrelevant.
“What can one expect from a new Trilateral Meeting with the Secretary-General? I don’t know if it slipped his mind, but the President provided the answer, saying that ‘the goal is to announce further measures.’ Simply put, the 5+1 conference and the start of substantive talks remain a pipe dream.”
And António Guterres is stepping down, leaving behind, at best, a process of confidence-building measures on the Cyprus issue…
READ ALSO: Erhurman Sees a “Game Changer” in the Cyprus Issue: The Mysterious Proposal and What He Revealed About the Behind-the-Scenes of the Trilateral Meeting
