Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar has firmly rejected the idea of a tripartite meeting with Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Christodoulides and UN envoy María Angela Holguín. Tatar's dismissal of the proposed discussions follows a meeting where he criticized the Republic of Cyprus for the recent arrests of individuals suspected of selling Greek Cypriot-owned property in the Turkish-occupied north, referring to these actions as "terrorist activities."
Speaking to reporters, Tatar stated, "There was no need for a tripartite meeting," emphasizing that discussions could not occur in an environment marked by discomfort over property issues. He informed Holguín that these matters must be resolved before any meeting could take place.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, following Turkey's invasion after a coup aimed at uniting the island with Greece. The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) is recognized only by Turkey, which maintains approximately 35,000 troops on the island. The Republic of Cyprus joined the EU in 2004, but only the Greek Cypriot south enjoys full benefits.
The recent arrests are part of a crackdown on illegal property transactions involving Greek Cypriot refugees who fled south during the invasion. Earlier this month, two Hungarian nationals were sentenced to prison for their involvement in these dealings.
Tatar urged Holguín to communicate his position to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, stating, "All this must stop," and emphasized that "the real victims are the Turkish Cypriot people."
In response, Christodoulides expressed disappointment over Tatar's remarks and reiterated the importance of a three-way discussion to foster positive developments by July. He described the judicial authority as responsible for the arrests and confirmed that the executive does not interfere in judicial matters.
Christodoulides also highlighted the significance of Holguín's upcoming meetings outside Cyprus, particularly in Turkey, as she is set to visit Greece, the UK, and Brussels. The last meeting between Christodoulides and Tatar occurred in Geneva in mid-March, resulting in modest confidence-building measures. Guterres has announced another meeting is planned for the end of July, and Holguín has been appointed as his personal envoy on Cyprus, having previously served in the role between January and July 2024.
