Former Cyprus Peace Negotiators Clash Over 2017 Talks Collapse

The debate centred on the Crans-Montana conference, widely considered the last substantial negotiation effort for Cyprus reunification.

Mavroyiannis maintained that then-Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu insisted during the crucial dinner that remaining troops should stay on the island permanently.

“Can anyone tell me that Mr Cavusoglu accepted the proposal and Mr Anastasiades walked away? No”, Mavroyiannis said.

Nami countered that then-Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades was already prepared to leave.

“A Cypriot leader passionate about reunifying his homeland would never leave Crans-Montana even if Cavusoglu and others left. He would stay until reunification was achieved. This didn’t happen, and I will never forgive him for it”, Nami said.

Mavroyiannis repeatedly highlighted that the Greek Cypriot side was the only one to submit written proposals and accept all six points of the Guterres framework.

Nami responded that it was the first time the Turkish side had agreed to discuss re-evaluation of guarantee agreements and accepted that intervention rights were not viable.

The discussion sparked an online debate, with journalist Makarios Drousiotis accusing Mavroyiannis of providing cover for Anastasiades despite knowing the truth.

Mavroyiannis rejected the accusation, stating his duty was to his country and the truth, not to Anastasiades or political expediency.

Source: In-Cyprus