Another meeting between President Nikos Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman takes place today, this time with specific issues on the table — and few illusions about breakthroughs.
At the centre of the agenda is the Rizokarpaso school, a symbol of survival for the enclaved Greek Cypriots of the Karpasia peninsula. A recent report by the European Parliament Research Service, commissioned by Cypriot MEP Loukas Fourlas, revealed that the Turkish Cypriot side refused the use of seven Greek school textbooks and rejected the appointment of seven teachers, disrupting the normal operation of the schools.
Nikos Christodoulides is expected to demand concrete, practical steps from Erhurman. However, this is far from straightforward — the Turkish Cypriot leader recently declared from Istanbul that he is “on the same page” as Turkey, which advocates a two-state solution.
Confidence-Building Measures and the opening of new crossing points will also be discussed. The Turkish Cypriot side has already rejected the opening of the Athienou checkpoint, but the Greek Cypriot side hopes for progress at other locations.
In an interview with the Greek newspaper “Ta Nea”, the President put forward a five-point proposal: reaffirmation of the agreed basis for a solution, recording of convergences, convening of an expanded conference, announcement of the resumption of negotiations, and the opening of four checkpoints.
The current situation, however, leaves little room for optimism before summer. Antonio Guterres’s term as UN Secretary-General is approaching its end, creating an additional time constraint. The question remains: will there be political will, or will this window of opportunity also be lost?
