By Bosphorus News Geopolitics Desk
Republic of Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides responded to Turkish Cypriot President Tufan Erhürman's account of a message from United Nations envoy María Ángela Holguín on October 22 by questioning the consistency of Erhürman's public statements. He did not say whether the Greek Cypriot side was prepared to accept a rotating presidency in a future settlement.
Erhürman says Holguín told him in New York in September that the Greek Cypriot side was ready to accept the principle. Asked about the account, Christodoulides said his side's position was clear. He cited Erhürman's October 18 interview with Politis, in which Erhürman said he had not heard Christodoulides publicly accept rotating leadership, and suggested reporters seek clarification from him.
What Erhürman says Holguín told him
On BRT's Reel Politik program on October 21, Erhürman said Holguín had conveyed the message during their September contacts. He wanted Christodoulides to accept the principle publicly, without linking it to security and guarantees, and said he had received no response.
In his Politis interview three days earlier, Erhürman said he was still waiting to hear that acceptance directly from Christodoulides. The length of each community's presidential term, he added, could be negotiated later.
One statement concerned a message Erhürman said came through Holguín; the other concerned a public commitment from Christodoulides. Christodoulides questioned the consistency of Erhürman's remarks but did not clarify the reported message.
The dispute over negotiating conditions
On October 18, Christodoulides accused the Turkish Cypriot side of demanding advance acceptance of its positions before formal negotiations resumed. He argued that Greek Cypriot proposals on other settlement issues also belonged at the negotiating table.
Erhürman wants rotating leadership accepted in principle before talks begin. He considers it part of political equality and opposes linking the principle to concessions on security or guarantees. The duration and practical arrangements of the presidency, he says, can be negotiated.
The two leaders also differ over how to handle the record of earlier UN negotiating convergences.
No public UN confirmation
Holguín's published account of the September meetings confirms separate contacts with both leaders in New York and a proposed joint meeting that did not take place. It makes no reference to the rotating-presidency message Erhürman described. The content of that reported private exchange has not been independently confirmed.
The leaders met again under UN auspices on October 20 to discuss confidence-building measures, negotiating methodology and settlement issues. They agreed to pursue environmental initiatives and exchanges of cultural artefacts, but made no agreement on restarting formal talks.
The leaders are scheduled to meet again on October 27, ahead of Holguín's expected return on October 29. A three-way meeting with the envoy is planned for November 9. The leaders have yet to agree how negotiations would resume, and proposed new crossing points remain unresolved.
Sources: Republic of Cyprus Presidency, BRT, Politis, United Nations, Bosphorus News review and reporting.