Turkish Cypriot president and Greek Cypriot leader discuss border gate proposals

Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Ersin Tatar met on Monday with Nikos Christodoulides, the leader of the Greek Cypriot Administration, to address key issues, including border crossings and citizen rights, in a meeting facilitated by the United Nations.

The leaders convened at the residence of Colin Stewart, the U.N. Special Representative and head of the U.N. Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP), situated in the buffer zone that separates the two sides of the island.

President Tatar proposed the opening of new border gates at Akincilar and Haspolat to enhance connectivity between the two communities. In contrast, the Greek Cypriot side advocated for transit passage through TRNC territory, particularly at Kiracikoy and Erenkoy.

Tatar highlighted a significant concern regarding the Greek Cypriot Administration’s discriminatory policies, stating that Greek Cypriot authorities refuse entry permits to TRNC citizens of Turkish origin. “I conveyed that this discrimination is unacceptable,” Tatar said after the meeting.

In a joint statement released by the U.N. goodwill mission in Cyprus, the leaders described their discussions as constructive. The statement emphasized the importance of fostering trust, increasing intercommunal contacts, and strengthening economic ties between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots.

Christodoulides disclosed that he presented Tatar with an eight-point proposal package addressing border crossings and other measures previously discussed at a dinner in New York. He underscored that the proposals should be implemented in their entirety, stating, “This package benefits all Cypriots, both Greek and Turkish.”

The two leaders agreed to reconvene before Feb. 10 to continue discussions, signaling a commitment to maintaining dialogue.

Cyprus dispute: A persistent challenge

The meeting comes against the backdrop of the decadeslong Cyprus conflict, which has defied numerous diplomatic efforts for resolution.

The division of the island traces back to ethnic tensions in the 1960s, leading to the withdrawal of Turkish Cypriots into enclaves. In 1974, a coup by Greek Cypriots seeking union with Greece prompted a military intervention by Türkiye, leading to the establishment of the TRNC in 1983.

While various peace initiatives have been pursued, including a 2017 conference in Switzerland with guarantor nations Türkiye, Greece, and the UK, no comprehensive settlement has been reached.

The Greek Cypriot Administration’s 2004 accession to the European Union further complicated the situation, as Greek Cypriots rejected a U.N.-backed plan to resolve the conflict in a referendum held the same year.