Christodoulides accuses Erhürman of setting preconditions for Cyprus talks

Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Christodoulides accused Turkish Cypriot President Tufan Erhürman of setting “preconditions” for resuming negotiations. He criticised the Turkish Cypriot insistence on pre-accepting a rotating presidency after a settlement, arguing that all issues should be addressed at the negotiating table.

Responding to Erhürman's claim that 19 new proposals had not been formally submitted to him, Christodoulides said the points were conveyed orally and that Erhürman was aware of them. He confirmed that one proposal concerns the future of closed Varosha, which he said was raised in a meeting with the UN Secretary-General in New York and in a letter.

Christodoulides said talks should continue from where they broke off at Crans-Montana in 2017, which would shorten the process. Asked why Erhürman made no statement on the Cyprus issue at a bicommunal festival in Pile, he said he did not know the reason.