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A rotating presidency is already among the understandings reached in Cyprus negotiations, Greek Cypriot negotiator Menelaos Menelaou says. But it cannot be separated from the rest of the negotiating package and turned into a condition for restarting talks.
In an interview with Andreas Kimitris for Kathimerini, Menelaou addressed one of the most politically sensitive questions surrounding a settlement: how the presidency of a reunited Cyprus would be shared.
His answer drew a distinction between acknowledging what previous negotiations produced and accepting a single element as an advance concession.
“It is included in the understandings reached, but within the framework of reaffirming all understandings across every negotiating chapter,” he said.
The comments come ahead of a Nov. 9 meeting between President Nikos Christodoulides, Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman and UN envoy Maria Angela Holguin, as efforts continue to prepare the ground for an expanded meeting and a decision to resume negotiations.
The whole package
Asked about Erhurman’s demand for acceptance of a rotating presidency before talks resume, Menelaou argued that neither side should set unilateral conditions.
The Greek Cypriot equivalent, he said, would be to insist that occupation troops leave and guarantees be abolished before agreeing to negotiate.
“There must be balance, reciprocity and common sense,” he said.
His proposed way forward is for everyone involved to reaffirm the full body of understandings reached up to the end of the Crans-Montana conference in summer 2017. That includes governance, territory, property, guarantees, troops and the application of EU law.
The purpose, he said, is to concentrate on the issues still unresolved rather than reopen the entire negotiating record.
He also clarified that the UN document recording those understandings would not be signed by the leaders or constitute an interim agreement. It would serve as a record of where the previous effort ended.
A crossing route moves forward, but no agreement yet
For people waiting for easier journeys across the divide, the interview offered a qualified sign of progress.
Menelaou said the question of the Athienou-Pyroi-Aglandjia route could be considered addressed, provided there were no further changes. That does not mean an overall crossing agreement has been reached.
According to his account, Christodoulides explicitly accepted Guterres’ compromise proposal covering Mia Milia and the Athienou route. Erhurman then sought to add a Louroujina-Lympia crossing, prompting the Greek Cypriot side to seek inclusion of its proposal for the Kokkina area.
“An agreement must be balanced,” Menelaou said, declining to disclose further proposals while discussions continue.
He rejected claims that the Greek Cypriot side was changing its demands and accused the Turkish side of delaying crossing arrangements to hold back substantive progress.
Looking beyond Guterres, if necessary
Menelaou maintained that progress had been made on substance, negotiating methodology, and confidence-building measures. He identified Turkey’s position as the obstacle to moving further, particularly because the security chapter also involves the guarantor powers.
He said every avenue would be pursued before Guterres’ term ends, while acknowledging that preparations for continuity are also being considered.
“We are not at that point,” he said of moving into a post-Guterres phase. But a smooth transition would need to be ensured if the remaining period passed without the steps being sought.
For the Nov. 9 meeting, the challenge is therefore twofold: preserve what previous negotiations achieved and establish whether all those involved are ready to work on what remains.
