Erhürman expected to present new confidence-building measures package

Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhürman is expected to present a package of new confidence-building measures at today’s leaders’ meeting, going beyond the issues of new crossing points and mine clearance. The package is intended to move the process towards high-level meetings with proposals aimed at overcoming existing disagreements.

Erhürman and Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Hristodulidis will meet on 9 November at 11.00 at the residence of the Head of the UN Mission in the buffer zone. The meeting will be hosted by María Ángela Holguín Cuellar, the United Nations Secretary-General’s Personal Representative.

Details of the package have not yet been disclosed

According to a report by Yenidüzen, citing information it has obtained, the package prepared by the Turkish Cypriot side covers not only issues previously negotiated, but also matters discussed during contacts in New York or reflected in UN reports. The proposals are said to include conciliatory formulas that take into account past demands by the UN and the Greek Cypriot side. However, the report does not give details of the new items.

The Turkish Cypriot side is reportedly aiming to make progress on confidence-building measures, paving the way for a 2+1 trilateral meeting attended by UN Secretary-General António Guterres, followed by a 5+1 meeting.

Crossings and mine clearance also on the agenda

The known technical issues to be discussed include four new crossing points on the Haspolat, Kiracıköy-Gaziler-Eğlence, Akıncılar-Limya and Kambo-Gemikonağı routes. Clearing mines from areas of 70,000 square metres on each side in the Deryneia area is also on the agenda.

Holguín, whose term of office ends in December, described progress on confidence-building measures in her pre-meeting statements as the first step towards a 5+1 meeting. She said that if no result is achieved, she will report this to the Secretary-General and her assignment will come to an end.