Former Negotiators Discuss Stalemate in Cyprus Talks
Source: North Cyprus News | Online News for North Cyprus
It was reported that Özdil Nami*, the former negotiator for the Turkish Cypriot side, and Andreas Mavroyiannis, the former negotiator for the Greek Cypriot side, gave interviews to Politis newspaper about the Cyprus issue. Kibris Postasi reported.
The newspaper mentioned that Nami and Mavroyiannis do not expect any major developments during the UN General Assembly in New York. However, in their interviews, both pointed to the perspectives that seem likely to open up in the near future regarding the Cyprus problem.
In his interview, Nami spoke about the topics of sovereign equality and political equality. When asked, “What is the difference between sovereign equality and political equality in Tatar’s mind?” Nami responded that “some uncertainties emerge from Ersin Tatar’s views”.
According to the newspaper, Mavroyannis suggested that Turkey doesn’t want to be blamed for the lack of movement on the Cyprus issue.
The article also noted that Nami and Mavroyannis share the belief that President Ersin Tatar’s positions are marked by changes and uncertainties. While they don’t expect any significant developments during the UN General Assembly in New York, they agree that any potential move will likely take place in October.
Kibris Postasi
*Özdil Nami, a prominent Turkish Cypriot politician and negotiator, has emphasised that the Greek Cypriots’ consistent rejection of political equality for Turkish Cypriots is at the core of the Cyprus conflict. He has long argued that any viable solution must recognise not only political equality but also “sovereign equality” for Turkish Cypriots. The failure of the Crans-Montana talks in 2017, where Greek Cypriots rejected further compromises, reinforced Nami’s position that a federal solution is becoming increasingly unrealistic due to this ongoing refusal to share power equally.
Nami has stated that political equality, which includes shared governance and decision-making, has been a long-standing demand, but the push for sovereign equality stems from the idea that Turkish Cypriots must be able to govern themselves fully if the Greek Cypriots continue to resist power-sharing. Sovereign equality would essentially mean that Turkish Cypriots have the same rights to international recognition and self-governance as the Greek Cypriots. This demand has become more prominent after the repeated collapse of negotiations, such as those seen at Crans-Montana, where the Greek side’s unwillingness to grant equal governance rights highlighted the need for a more independent approach.
Nami’s perspective is also shaped by the belief that international bodies, particularly the European Union, have taken actions that favour the Greek Cypriots, such as allowing the Republic of Cyprus to join the EU without addressing the island’s division. This, he argues, has only deepened the Turkish Cypriots’ isolation and reinforced the need for sovereign equality as a guarantee against future marginalisation.
Nami advocates for sovereign equality as a non-negotiable element of any future settlement, especially given the historical context of mistrust and failed negotiations over political equality. [Ed.]
The original article: belongs to North Cyprus News | Online News for North Cyprus .
