Erhürman: “If Christodoulides Truly Wants a Solution, He Should Be Ready to Negotiate”

In a detailed statement shared via his personal social media account, Erhürman offered a critical assessment of the upcoming New York meeting on Cyprus, which will include the UN Secretary-General and high-level representatives of the three guarantor states.

Erhürman noted that such a meeting would once have generated significant excitement on both sides of the island. However, he pointed out that today, the event barely registers in public discourse. Citing Turkish Cypriot Foreign Minister Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu’s dismissive remarks and the refusal of the UBP to send a delegation, Erhürman argued that neither side appears to expect tangible results.

“Diplomacy and dialogue are always good,” Erhürman said, stressing that the Geneva and New York meetings could serve as bridges to a more substantive phase, particularly in contrast to past periods when the two sides refused to even share a meal or coffee.

On the core issue of restarting official negotiations, Erhürman criticised the UN’s assertion that no common ground exists, stating that this conclusion could have easily been reached by reviewing public statements made by both leaders online—without the need for special envoys or international summits.

He also dismissed the need for high-level talks to address Confidence-Building Measures such as opening new crossing points or restoring cemeteries. “These are issues that could be resolved in Nicosia,” he said, lamenting the lack of serious dialogue between the two leaders, even between the Geneva and New York meetings.

Erhürman expressed hope that the New York meeting might at least result in the opening of new crossing points, though he acknowledged expectations remain low. “Perhaps after all this, the headline will be ‘The Mountain Gave Birth to a Mouse’—if even that.”

Touching on recent arrests related to property sales and the rights of children from mixed marriages, Erhürman condemned the Greek Cypriot side’s unilateral actions in signing agreements on security, maritime zones, energy, and trade without consulting Turkish Cypriots or Turkey.

He stated that Christodoulides is exploiting the political space afforded by Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar’s rejectionist stance, adding: “But it is not Mr Christodoulides who holds the will for a solution; it is the Turkish Cypriot people. This has been repeatedly proven and recognised by the international community.”

Erhürman warned that the current political comfort enjoyed by the Greek Cypriot side would come to an end with the rise of a pro-solution policy from within the Turkish Cypriot community: “If Mr Christodoulides truly wants a solution, let him be prepared to sit at the table, recognise the political equality of Turkish Cypriots without question, and agree to a time-bound negotiation process based on existing convergences—one where walking away from the table will not return us to the status quo.”

He concluded with a strong message: “The Turkish Cypriot people have always existed and will continue to exist. We are one of the two equal founding partners of this island. This will never change. And with our long struggle, we will take our rightful place—not on the sidelines, but as a central actor on this island and in the region.”