Turkish Cypriot leader rules out prospect of tripartite meeting

Published on 26/05/2025 - 15:34 GMT+2

Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar connected Monday changeable down nan thought of a tripartite gathering betwixt himself, Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Christodoulides and UN envoy María Angela Holguín.

Following a gathering pinch Holguín, Tatar lashed retired astatine nan authorities of nan internationally recognised Republic of Cyprus complete caller arrests of individuals suspected of trading Greek Cypriot-owned spot successful nan Turkish-occupied north.

Referring to nan arrests arsenic "terrorist activies", Tatar said he had told Holguín during their gathering successful Cyprus that "there was nary request for a tripartite meeting."

"I said that a gathering pinch Christodoulides could not beryllium held successful specified an environment, that location was discomfort connected nan rumor of property, and that it would not beryllium correct to create specified an situation without resolving these issues,” Tatar told nationalist broadcaster CyBC.

The land federation of Cyprus has been divided since 1974, erstwhile Turkey invaded pursuing a coup backed by nan Greek junta, which aimed astatine a national pinch Greece. The Turkish Cypriot declaration of independency successful nan island's bluish 3rd is recognised only by Turkey, which maintains astir 35,000 troops there.

The Republic of Cyprus joined nan European Union successful 2004, but only nan Greek Cypriot south, wherever nan island's internationally recognised authorities is based, enjoys afloat benefits.

A spate of caller arrests targeted group complete nan forbidden improvement of spot successful nan northbound which is owned by Greek Cypriot refugees, who fled southbound during nan 1974 invasion. Two Hungarian nationals were nan first to beryllium sentenced to situation complete nan rumor earlier this month.

Tatar asked Holguín to convey his position to UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, adding that "All this must stop," arsenic "the existent victims are nan Turkish Cypriot people."

Christodoulides 'saddened' by Tatar's comments

Christodoulides had met pinch Holguín connected Saturday, aft which he indicated nan Republic of Cyprus would beryllium "here to respond" successful nan arena of a affirmative consequence from Tatar.

Referring to nan latter's comments connected Monday, nan Cypriot president said he was "saddened".

He insisted that nan judiciary was responsible for nan arrests, saying "the executive authority of does not interfere successful nan judicial authority nether immoderate circumstances."

He besides reiterated erstwhile comments that "it would beryllium bully for nan 3 of america to beryllium astir a array to talk and person a free chat truthful that we tin get person to nan extremity of July, truthful that location are affirmative developments," adding that he would "definitely" beryllium holding a caller gathering pinch Holguín.

Christodoulides added that Holguín's meetings extracurricular Cyprus and particularly Turkey would beryllium "decisive". The UN envoy is besides scheduled to sojourn Greece, nan UK and Brussels.

Christodoulides and Tatar past met successful Geneva successful mid-March, aft which a bid of humble confidence-building measures were announced.

Guterres announced a akin gathering is to beryllium held astatine nan extremity of July. He appointed Holguín arsenic his individual envoy connected Cyprus successful early May. She had antecedently been successful nan aforesaid domiciled betwixt January and July 2024.