EDEK leader criticizes outcome of Cyprus talks

Following a recent tripartite meeting involving UN personal envoy Maria Angela Holguin, Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides, and Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman, EDEK party leader Sofia Christodoulou Makri has expressed concern over the lack of substantive progress. Makri attributed the ongoing deadlock to Turkish intransigence, specifically citing Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s continued insistence on a two-state solution.

While Makri acknowledged the agreement to open two new border crossing points as a positive development, she characterized it as being of minor significance. The EDEK leader also expressed sharp disagreement with Maria Angela Holguin’s stance, specifically criticizing the envoy’s decision not to submit a document of convergences and her proposal to prioritize rotating presidency in future negotiations. In response to these developments, EDEK is calling on the European Union to adopt a more assertive role by imposing sanctions on Turkey to pressure the Turkish side toward a viable solution.

Despite the lack of major breakthroughs, the parties involved have agreed to hold a future tripartite meeting under the auspices of the UN Secretary-General. EDEK maintains that prospects for breaking the current stalemate remain minimal given the rigid positions held by the Turkish leadership.