By Bosphorus News Geopolitics Desk
Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhürman and Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Christodoulides have confirmed plans to attend November's COP31 summit in Antalya, but no bilateral meeting has been announced. Their October 13 talks under United Nations (UN) auspices produced no agreement on new crossings or the terms for restarting negotiations.
Antalya and Pyla/Pile
Erhürman said on October 14 that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had invited him on July 14 to the November 9–20 conference. He learned of Christodoulides' attendance through news reports. Christodoulides confirmed his plans on October 13, crediting diplomatic efforts by the Republic of Cyprus and its partners. Türkiye does not recognize the Republic of Cyprus.
At their October 13 meeting, the leaders agreed to attend a bicommunal festival in Pyla/Pile on October 17 and join upcoming meetings of the Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage, the Technical Committee on Youth and the Steering Committee of the Civil Society Consultative Body. They also agreed to meet again the following week and welcomed the planned return of UN envoy María Ángela Holguín.
Crossings remain unresolved. Erhürman says his side accepted six of seven issues he says UN Secretary-General António Guterres raised, with crossings the exception. Christodoulides has advanced a separate 19-point package covering confidence-building measures, methodology and substantive talks. Neither package has been jointly endorsed.
Dispute Over UN Resolutions
After the leaders met, Christodoulides said they were in complete agreement that a settlement should remain within relevant UN Security Council resolutions. Turkish Cypriot Foreign Minister Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu challenged that account on October 14 and called on Erhürman to deny that he had given such consent.
Ertuğruloğlu told Turkish News Agency Cyprus (TAK) that Security Council Resolution 186, adopted in 1964, was itself part of the problem. He reaffirmed the Turkish Cypriot government's policy of two sovereign, equal states. The UN's account of the meeting recorded no agreement on a settlement framework.
The UN Convergences Record
Greek Cypriot negotiator Menelaos Menelaou told Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation (RIK) on October 14 that the UN had completed its record of convergences reached in earlier negotiations, but the Turkish side had not agreed to its circulation. He said those convergences belonged to a federal settlement process, whereas Ankara continued to demand a two-state solution.
Menelaou also said the Turkish Cypriot side considered release premature and had not clearly committed to a federal settlement. Holguín said in September that the record would be available when formal negotiations began. The Greek Cypriot side wants it circulated beforehand.
Israel Allies Delegation Raises Türkiye Dispute
Separately on October 14, Christodoulides met Israel Allies Foundation (IAF) president Josh Reinstein and four members of a new six-lawmaker cooperation group in the Republic of Cyprus House of Representatives. The four were Democratic Party (DIKO) lawmakers Chrysis Pantelides and Andreas Apostolou and National Popular Front (ELAM) lawmakers Sotiris Ioannou and Marios Pelekanos. Two Democratic Rally (DISY) lawmakers are also members of the group but were not listed among those at the presidential meeting.
Speaking after the meeting, Reinstein referred to Türkiye and the Muslim Brotherhood as "common adversaries" in discussing ties between the Republic of Cyprus and Israel. He described efforts to deepen cooperation among the Republic of Cyprus, Greece, Israel and the United States, including on infrastructure.
Pantelides accused Türkiye of expansionism, aggression and supporting terrorism. The Republic of Cyprus Presidency focused its public account of the meeting on parliamentary diplomacy and closer ties with Israel. No new bilateral defense agreement was announced.
Sources: United Nations Good Offices Mission in Cyprus, TRNC Presidency, Turkish News Agency Cyprus (TAK), Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation (RIK), Republic of Cyprus Presidency, Cyprus News Agency, Democratic Party (DIKO), Bosphorus News review and reporting.