Turkish Cypriot President says informal Cyprus talks show two-state policy gaining ground
Turkish Cypriot President Ersin Tatar smiles at the start of a meeting host by UN Secretary-General with Cyprus President at the United Nations in Geneva on March 18, 2025 (AFP Photo)
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Ersin Tatar stated that the United Nations’ (U.N.) invitation for informal Cyprus talks in Geneva, despite the lack of common ground between the parties, signifies that the two-state policy is gaining traction.
UN-mediated Cyprus meeting in Geneva
Tatar made his remarks in an interview with Anadolu Agency (AA) following the expanded informal Cyprus meeting held under the auspices of U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in Geneva on March 17-18.
Expressing gratitude for the full support provided by Türkiye, including Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and his delegation, Tatar emphasized the significance of Türkiye’s presence at the meeting.
“Türkiye being here by our side is very important for us,” he said.
No common ground found in previous talks
Tatar recalled that a similar informal meeting was held in Geneva four years ago, shortly after he was elected president. He noted that at the time, his policy of sovereign equality and international recognition for the TRNC was met with strong reactions.
“However, in the end, we know very well that we should not enter a process based on federation anymore, as those efforts have always failed,” he said.
Referring to the 2004 Annan Plan and the 2017 Crans-Montana negotiations, he highlighted that the Greek Cypriot side had repeatedly rejected proposals, leading to lost opportunities.
With Türkiye’s full backing, Tatar said a new chapter had been opened, but the 2021 talks confirmed that there was no common ground between the parties.
UN invitation indicates progress in two-state policy
Commenting on the recent Geneva meeting, Tatar stated:
“If they invited us here despite knowing that there is no common ground today, it means that our two-state policy is making progress. If a solution is to be found in Cyprus, it will only come through cooperation between the two peoples and two states.”
He added that efforts to cultivate a culture of cooperation were underway, with the UN Secretary-General’s personal envoy playing a role in facilitating this process.
Ongoing cooperation and confidence-building measures
Tatar emphasized that several areas of collaboration between the two sides were being explored, including:
- Solar energy projects in the buffer zone
- Maintenance of cemeteries
- Further confidence-building initiatives
Additionally, discussions on opening new crossing points between the two sides were also on the agenda. Tatar recalled that his previous proposal to open two crossing points had been rejected, but there is now renewed interest in facilitating movement and trade.
“The Secretary-General stated that four new crossing points could be opened. These are important steps and developments,” he said.
Participation of key stakeholders in Geneva talks
The informal meeting brought together representatives from both Turkish and Greek Cypriot communities, as well as the three guarantor states—Türkiye, Greece, and the United Kingdom.
Participants included:
- TRNC President Ersin Tatar
- Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan
- Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Christodoulides
- Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis
- U.K. Minister of State for Europe and North America Stephen Doughty, along with accompanying delegations.
The meeting aimed to exchange views on the future of the Cyprus issue and explore potential avenues for progress.
