Yiannis Ioannou
Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar adopted a hardline stance following his meeting with the UN Secretary-General’s personal envoy, María Ángela Holguín. Tatar focused heavily on the issue of property rights, in light of the recent arrests by the Republic of Cyprus of individuals accused of illegally exploiting Greek Cypriot properties in the north.
He ruled out the possibility of a trilateral meeting with President Nikos Christodoulides in Holguín’s presence and went so far as to warn of potential retaliatory measures by the so-called "TRNC" over the arrests.
Holguín had previously held what was described as a constructive meeting with President Christodoulides on Saturday. According to information obtained by Kathimerini, she is expected to travel to Turkey on May 31 to discuss the Cyprus issue with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan.
Tatar digs in
Speaking to the press after his meeting with Holguín, Tatar said, “I stated that there is no need for a trilateral meeting. I told Mr. Christodoulides that a meeting under the current circumstances could not take place. There is significant discomfort over the property issue, and such an environment should not be created until these issues are resolved.”
Tatar went on to signal potential retaliation in response to the Republic’s legal actions regarding Greek Cypriot properties in the occupied north. “If we wish to maintain this new atmosphere and believe it can pave the way for a future agreement, I asked Ms. Holguín to convey to Mr. Guterres that unless these actions stop, there could be countermeasures. These could lead to unfortunate consequences that harm everyone involved,” he warned.
Sources close to the matter confirmed Kathimerini’s earlier reporting that Tatar now considers the arrests a key condition before agreeing to any trilateral meeting with President Christodoulides and the UN envoy.
Christodoulides: “We will meet again”
President Christodoulides confirmed on Monday morning that he would hold another meeting with Holguín, stressing that her upcoming contacts, particularly in Turkey, are “crucially important” for determining the path forward in the Cyprus peace process.
Addressing the property issue, Christodoulides made clear that “the law applies equally to all.” Sources told Kathimerini that Tatar’s demand for presidential intervention in Cyprus’ independent judiciary remains a red line for Nicosia and is also understood as such by the United Nations.
Holguín heads to Ankara
Holguín’s next stop is Ankara, where she will meet Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on May 31. Veteran observers of the Cyprus issue see this meeting as critical, as it may offer insights into Turkey’s position and the dynamics of the Ankara-Tatar relationship, something President Christodoulides also hinted at.
Building trust
Holguín, in a brief statement after her meeting with Tatar, said the two had a “very good and productive discussion.” She noted that she listened closely to Tatar’s concerns, particularly on the property issue, and added that they discussed the confidence-building measures agreed upon in Geneva this past March.
“We need to achieve results ahead of the next meeting in July,” she said, adding that the next round of talks will take place in New York.
“I will do everything I can to help build a bridge toward progress,” Holguín said. She also recalled her recent meeting with President Christodoulides, where they discussed the same Geneva agreements.
“This is a good starting point. We must build trust, and the way to do that is by listening to both leaders and understanding their concerns,” she concluded.
*This article was translated from its Greek original
