Cyprus problem ‘could be solved in three months’

The Cyprus problem “could be solved in three months” under the right negotiating framework, former Turkish Cypriot chief negotiator Ozdil Nami said on Wednesday.

Speaking to Kibris Postasi TV, he said that such a process must have a “clear timetable”, and that if no conclusion is reached within the agreed time, “Turkish Cypriots could be given the choice between federation and isolation, and Greek Cypriots could be given the choice between federation and a two-state solution”.

He said these choices could then be put to the island’s two communities in a referendum, “and a federal solution could be reached in this way”.

He also passed comment on the planned “enlarged meeting” on the Cyprus problem involving representatives of both communities and Cyprus’ three guarantor powers, Greece, Turkey, and the United Kingdom.

He said it “will not be productive unless a policy which is in line with the world and the United Nations Security Council’s decisions is followed” by the Turkish Cypriot side, adding that “the current staff and the declarations they make are not serious”, and that for this reason, “such a meeting will most likely not be meaningful”.

On this matter, he said Ersin Tatar’s policy of pursuing a two-state solution to the Cyprus problem since being elected as Turkish Cypriot leader in 2020 “has not brought any success” and added that “a new process should be adopted for a solution”.

“A process compatible with the Security Council’s decision and compatible with the world should be operated. The TRNC has not been promoted internationally, economic, cultural, and sporting ties have not been established, and summits hosted by Turkey have no positive impact on people,” he said.

Those Security Council decisions stipulate that the Cyprus problem be solved on the basis of a bizonal, bicommunal federation with political equality between the two sides.

Nami served as former Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat’s chief negotiator between 2008 and 2010 and as Mustafa Akinci’s chief negotiator between 2015 and 2020.

He also served as the north’s ‘foreign minister’ under then-‘prime minister’ Ozkan Yorgancioglu between 2013 and 2015, and as ‘energy minister’ under then-‘prime minister’ Tufan Erhurman between 2018 and 2019.