Ulaş Barış writes..."New Crossing Points, Old Habits…"

Nearly three weeks have passed since the January 20 meeting between Ersin Tatar and Nikos Christodoulides, yet no date has been set for a follow-up meeting.

As may be recalled, after the meeting, Ersin Tatar told the press that the talks had taken place in a positive atmosphere. When asked, “When will you meet again?” he responded, “Probably next week.”

However, in a classic Cyprus problem-style dilemma, that week has yet to arrive—and based on the information in this article, it may never come!

Nevertheless, I would like to share the details I have gathered.

Rather than speculating about whether a new meeting is “coming, about to come, or may not come at all,” what we know for certain is that UN Under-Secretary-General Rosemary Di Carlo will be on the island on Monday. She is scheduled to meet with Ersin Tatar first, followed by Nikos Christodoulides.

There has been much speculation regarding the purpose of her visit, but her main objective is to prepare the groundwork for the multilateral conference set to take place in Switzerland this March. Even if the leaders fail to agree on a new crossing point or other confidence-building measures, the conference will proceed.

It has already been established—since discussions following the October 15 dinner—that the two issues in question (new crossing points and other confidence-building measures) are not conditional upon each other, but rather complementary elements. This remains unchanged.

What is happening regarding the rumored new leaders' meeting on February 7?

According to my sources, the Turkish Cypriot side proposed this date at least a week in advance. However, the Greek Cypriot press has repeatedly reported that the Greek Cypriot side made the proposal and is awaiting a response.

The reality, however, appears to be that the Greek Cypriot side does not want the meeting to take place unless its eight-point proposal from January 20 is accepted. In other words, the stance is: “Either you accept all eight points, or the February 7 meeting does not happen.”

The Turkish Cypriot side, on the other hand, has dismissed four of the points—those concerning issues such as a “truth commission” and a “youth committee”—as irrelevant to the agenda. It is solely interested in the proposals related to new crossing points.

Thus, the Turkish Cypriot side has not responded to or proposed alternatives to these four points. It views the Greek Cypriot leader’s eight-point proposal as a tactical move designed to shift responsibility: “We made our proposal, the ball is in their court.”

Certain Greek Cypriot columnists have also criticized these additional four points as an attempt to “complicate matters.”

Personally, I have previously written about these four proposals, stating that I do not necessarily oppose them. After all, if a solution is ever reached, a truth commission could play a crucial role in securing lasting peace on the island.

However, given the urgency of opening new crossing points, it might be wise to postpone discussions on these additional proposals for now. That being said, they should not be abandoned entirely.

So, what is happening with the proposed crossing points?

First, there appears to be a general consensus between both sides regarding the Haspolat crossing. Both parties seem ready to take the necessary steps to open it.

There is also broad agreement on the Akıncılar-Limnia crossing, which Ersin Tatar proposed during the January 20 meeting.

Meanwhile, the Greek Cypriot proposal for the Kiráçıköy-Piroi crossing has been largely satisfied with this new proposal. In fact, the Akıncılar-Limnia issue has been under discussion for over a decade but has now, for the first time, been formally brought to the table.

The Turkish Cypriot side has already specified the location of the crossing in its January 20 proposal and even begun some preparatory work. If an agreement is reached, the crossing could be completed quickly—this was confirmed by Akıncılar-Değirmenlik Mayor Ali Karavezirler, who visited the site with Tatar.

Tatar’s proposal has garnered strong support, not only from Akhna residents but also from Greek Cypriot villages in the area.

However, there is clear opposition from the Turkish Cypriot side to a crossing through Erenköy (Kokkina). The military also opposes this plan. The Turkish Cypriot position is that crossings should be north-south, not east-west, meaning no progress is expected on that front.

One indisputable fact is that Nicosia needs another vehicle crossing. Every day, people endure severe traffic congestion. Would such a crossing benefit people on both sides? Absolutely.

And do both sides want it? Yes—except for Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu.

Given all these factors, you might ask: “If everyone supports it and the intent is there, why isn’t it happening?”

Well, as I find myself stuck in long border queues—like everyone else—I often say:

Of course, new crossing points will never replace a comprehensive solution.

But let’s hope that old habits do not stand in the way and that, at the very least, some relief can be brought to the daily struggle of people who must navigate border crossings every day.