Another meeting today between the two leaders, with absolutely no expectation of any notable progress. And we are not even talking about substantive progress – that can almost be written off – but at least some small steps forward that might give a sense that something is finally beginning to move on the Cyprus issue.
Even if the announcements hinted at after the previous meeting are confirmed today, concerning certain confidence‑building measures, these will relate to entirely secondary and largely insignificant issues which, whether announced or not, will not alter the current grim reality of the complete ineffectiveness of both leaders.
Regrettably, we will repeat it: more than six months after they assumed leadership of the two communities, Nikos Christodoulides and Tufan Erhürman, and despite the fact that they have already held several meetings, remain tragically unwilling and hesitant to take even a small step forward.
They meet simply in order to meet, evidently each serving his own reasons, but beyond that nothing. A tactic that leads mathematically to the complete degradation of the process and entrenches disappointment among those who had hoped that, as two politicians of a new generation, they would bring fresh air and a different dynamic to the stagnant Cyprus process.
It is not that we expected leaps or miracles in these first months. There was full awareness of the difficulties and obstacles created by years of stalemate and deadlock, as well as by the complete absence of communication between the two sides during Ersin Tatar’s tenure as Turkish Cypriot leader.
What we did expect was for the current leaders to show genuine will and determination to overturn the state of affairs they inherited. And, above all, to show sincerity.
Sadly, we see none of that. What we do see is a game of buying time and statements made for the sake of statements.
President Christodoulides, while speaking in vague and general terms about his readiness at any time for talks, is 'busy with other matters,' and the process reportedly under way by the UN Secretary‑General, which he has lately invoked, is neither confirmed by the other side nor reflected in developments on the ground.
On the other hand, the Turkish Cypriot leader appears to have settled back and is waiting for Cyprus’ presidency of the EU Council to conclude before deciding whether to engage with the Cyprus issue, while in the meantime raising issues through 'peculiar' social media posts that even his most hard‑line predecessors (Tatar, Eroğlu, Rauf Denktaş) never contemplated.
In short, both leaders give the impression that they are perfectly comfortable with today’s 'status quo' and inertia, and that they have not the slightest intention of disturbing it.
