Cyprus President Accuses Turkish Cypriot Leader of Setting Preconditions for Talks

President Nikos Christodoulides on Sunday accused Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman of trying to set preconditions for the resumption of negotiations over the Cyprus problem. Christodoulides said Erhurman is demanding that the Greek Cypriot side accept specific positions in advance, while refusing to discuss Greek Cypriot interests. He noted that the Turkish Cypriot side insists on a rotating presidency between the two communities as a prerequisite for any talks, a point the Greek Cypriot side views as a dead‑lock tactic. Christodoulides also highlighted that he has presented 19 oral proposals, including a plan for the fenced‑off area of Varosha, to the UN Secretary‑General and the Turkish Cypriot side. He urged that all issues be discussed at the negotiating table and that the resumption of talks would reveal the parties’ real willingness to resolve the dispute. The Turkish Cypriot undersecretary, Mehmet Dana, reiterated that political equality and the rotating presidency are non‑negotiable, citing past failures when these were treated as bargaining chips.