Harmancı Meets Holguin, Calls for Renewed Confidence in Peace Process

Reflecting on the past year, Mayor Harmancı emphasized that even the limited negotiation process, restricted to confidence-building measures, has failed to produce tangible results affecting people’s lives. This, he said, deepens the sense of hopelessness regarding a fair and comprehensive solution. He highlighted the lack of progress on new crossing points, noting, “Not only has no agreement been reached on new crossing points, but the unresolved status of the Metehan crossing is being used almost as a tool of retaliation and punishment in exchange for issues like property that can only be addressed through a comprehensive settlement.”

‘EXTREME RIGHT-WING AND RACISM ARE RISING’

Harmancı criticized President Ersin Tatar’s pursuit of a legally and politically baseless “two-state solution” illusion and his refusal to engage in talks, which created a space where Nikos Hristodulidis could operate unilaterally. “This has strengthened the far-right in the south and silenced those advocating for peace,” he said.

‘DENIAL OF CITIZENSHIP TO CYPRIOT TURKISH CHILDREN OF MIXED MARRIAGES IS A CLEAR HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATION’

Harmancı added, “Denying citizenship to Cypriot Turkish children born of mixed marriages constitutes an undeniable constitutional and international human rights violation. Reversing this practice is essential both for building trust between communities and for restoring faith in the peace process within the Turkish Cypriot community.”

‘NICOSIA IS THE LOCOMOTIVE OF CITY DIPLOMACY’

Highlighting the role of local governments, Mayor Harmancı stressed that the international community must support innovative and practical ideas to rebuild trust and advance the peace process. He noted that Nicosia has played a leading role in cooperation and rapprochement between the two communities since the 1970s. “To advance this further, dialogue and cooperation between the southern and northern Nicosia municipalities should be institutionalized in a way that garners both support and legitimacy from the international community,” he concluded.