Tufan Erhurman discusses confidence-building and stalled negotiations in Cyprus

Tufan Erhurman, the leader of the Turkish Cypriot community, recently addressed his meetings at the UN General Assembly in New York, rejecting claims that he opposes trilateral talks. He emphasized that he is ready for trilateral or "5+1" meetings, provided they aim for substantive results rather than being mere photo opportunities. Erhurman proposed intensifying talks in Nicosia to move closer to an agreement before proceeding to higher-level international conferences. Regarding the ongoing dialogue, he noted that seven confidence-building measures (CBMs) suggested by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres remain on the table.

Erhurman has also introduced the concept of "actions that erode trust," citing the cancellation of cultural events, obstruction of diplomatic contacts for Turkish Cypriots, and property-related arrests as factors damaging the climate. He referenced comments by the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy, Maria Angela Holguin, who confirmed that convergences from 2015-2017 form a single, unified set of work. Meanwhile, the Cypriot government has demanded access to these convergence documents to ensure transparency. Regarding citizenship for children of mixed marriages, Erhurman stressed that this is an issue of human rights and non-discrimination rather than a standard CBM, though he acknowledges it carries a trust-building aspect.