Politics of Cyprus

The talks between the Greek and Turkish sides in Cyprus have come to such a stage that it is time for the United Nations to resume shuttle diplomacy, according to Mustafa Akıncı, the president of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

United Nations special envoy for Cyprus Espen Barth Eide was in Ankara on Feb. 7 to hold talks with Turkish officials over the ongoing peace talks to bring a lasting solution to the eastern Mediterranean island. 

Eide first held talks with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu on Feb. 7. He was later scheduled to meet Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım. 

Turkish Cypriot President Mustafa Akıncı expressed hope over the ongoing Cyprus peace talks on Jan. 26, also making a call to all parties in the process to put extra effort into solving the conflict. 

Years of experience has taught us that every new proposal to resolve the division of Cyprus is worse than the last. However, the fact that the current peace process is continuing on the level of technical teams shows there is a desire for a viable solution both on the side of the Cypriot government and from the Turkish Cypriots.

Has there been any progress at the Geneva Cyprus talks? This is a very important question, the answer to which largely depends on which perspective one might wish to answer it from. Was it a success? Was it a failure?

The President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated today that “we have made it clear to Greece and Cyprus that they should not been waiting a solution without Turkey as a guarantor. We will always be there”.

These were the conditions set by Turkey during the negotiations in Geneva about the Cyprus dispute, according to Reuters.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday the Greek side was once again avoiding a solution to the Cyprus problem, warning that a solution without Turkey should not be expected.

"We have told Cyprus and Greece clearly that they should not expect a solution without Turkey as guarantor. We are going to be there forever," Erdogan told reporters in Istanbul after Friday prayers.

Speaking on the third day of reunification talks at United Nations offices in Geneva, Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades said he expected that the two sides would exchange maps detailing the respective zones' boundaries on Wednesday.

"I believe so... That's the agreement," the Cypriot President told the media as he arrived for the talks.

As the leaders of divided Cyprus settled down for a week of intense talks on Jan. 9, seeking to reach the outline of a peace deal to end decades of separation, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu has vowed that Ankara would never withdraw from its guarantor position on the island.

The parties to the Cyprus dispute have not been able to proceed on four negotiation topics on the issue, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said, adding that the Greek Cypriots had focused on guarantees and security issues, instead of discussing topics on other chapters, before a new round of talks are set to start in Geneva on Jan. 9.