President Tufan Erhürman holds press conference following tête-à-tête meeting with Greek Cypriot Leader Nikos Christodoulides
“The meeting was useful, productive and held in a positive atmosphere”
“A framework will be established for more active participation and engagement of civil society in the process”
“Our perspective is one that is grounded within the scope of freedom of religion and conscience”
“Entry restrictions to Türkiye on more than 15 individuals have been lifted”
President Tufan Erhürman held a press conference at the Presidency on Friday following his tête-à-tête meeting with Greek Cypriot Leader Nikos Christodoulides in the buffer zone.
In his statement, President Erhürman described the meeting as useful and productive, adding that it had taken place in a positive atmosphere.
The full text of the statement of President Erhürman is as follows:
“A FRAMEWORK WILL BE ESTABLISHED FOR MORE ACTIVE PARTICIPATION AND ENGAGEMENT OF CIVIL SOCIETY IN THE PROCESS”
“At today’s meeting with Mr. Christodoulides, as we have previously stated, we emphasised that, particularly on issues that would facilitate the daily lives of the two peoples and enhance people-to-people contacts, we, as the two leaders in Nicosia, need to demonstrate our ability to produce solutions. Naturally, the most important issue in this regard is the new crossing points. This matter has also acquired symbolic significance, and therefore achieving progress on it could pave the way forward.
Apart from this, we had also put forward other proposals from the outset, and today we were able to achieve some progress on certain elements included in those proposals. First and foremost, prior to my assuming office, at the meeting held in New York on 16–17 July 2025, there had been an initiative during the presidency of Mr. Ersin Tatar regarding the establishment of an consultative body that would also ensure the participation of civil society in the process. Today, we reached a joint decision. The people we shall be authorising will establish the framework of this initiative and commence joint work. This will enable civil society to participate and engage more actively in the process. We have reached an agreement on this matter.”
“OUR PERSPECTIVE IS ONE THAT IS GROUNDED WITHIN THE SCOPE OF FREEDOM OF RELIGION AND CONSCIENCE”
As a second point, there have been certain difficulties for some time regarding the conduct of religious services on both sides. From the perspective of Turkish Cypriots, there have been issues particularly concerning pilgrimage to the Hala Sultan Tekke in Larnaca, whilst from the perspective of Greek Cypriots, Maronites and Armenians, there have been issues regarding religious services in the north. Our perspective is one that is grounded within the scope of freedom of religion and conscience.
A similar issue had arisen some time ago regarding access to the Hala Sultan Tekke. As reported in the media today, misunderstandings also occurred regarding the conduct of a religious service at the Sourp Magar Monastery, known as the Armenian Monastery. The physical conditions there are not particularly suitable, and this also emerged as an issue.
Today, we presented the following proposal: rather than encountering problems on a case-by-case basis whenever individual religious services are to be held, let us establish six-month schedules. People to be appointed would address such matters and common solutions would be found well in advance, rather than on the day of the religious service or worship itself. They should be planned on a six-month basis so that no recurring difficulties arise. This was our proposal. Mr. Christodoulides accepted this proposal. People to be appointed will commence their work, which will be conducted under the leadership of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.”
“WE HAVE DECIDED TO CONTINUE COORDINATION EFFORTS ON FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE”
“As a third issue, as you know, for quite some time there has been a problem concerning foot-and-mouth disease both in the south and in the north. Whilst this problem has been experienced on a much larger scale in the south, we have managed to keep the disease largely under control. More coordinated work on this matter was already being carried out under the Technical Committee on Health and its Sub-Committee on Veterinary Affairs, and it was decided to continue coordination efforts on this issue.
As a fourth point, as you know, within the ten-point Confidence-Building Measures Package that we put forward on the first day, there was a proposal to establish a new Sub-Committee under the relevant Technical Committee dedicated to PDO/PGI registration, the best-known example of which is hellim. Within this framework, we also agreed on the establishment of a sub-committee under the Technical Committee on Economic and Commercial Matters so that Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot members may work jointly on this issue, primarily regarding hellim.
“THE MEETING WAS USEFUL, PRODUCTIVE AND HELD IN A POSITIVE ATMOSPHERE”
“These may appear to be small issues; however, we naturally expect that mutual communication and engagement between civil societies will bring dynamism to the process, and the inclusion of this initiative in New York was most probably itself the product of such expectation.
Apart from this, it is important for us that issues concerning hellim, matters of significance for animal husbandry across the island as a whole, and other issues of common concern are addressed jointly; and that an approach has been adopted whereby issues relating to religious services and -- matters concerning freedom of religion and conscience, and therefore human rights -- are indeed handled without difficulty. I believe this demonstrates that the meeting today was useful, productive, and conducted in a positive atmosphere.”
“PROGRESS HAS BEEN ACHIEVED ON CERTAIN ISSUES”
“It should be noted that, alongside these developments, progress has also been achieved on some of the items in the ten-point proposal we had, as you will recall, presented at the outset. There has been an easing in the congestion at the Metehan crossing point compared to the past, based on feedback from our people. As you know, this was one of the issues on which we placed particular emphasis and importance.
Road tax services are now being provided in Bostancı, and we hope a similar arrangement will soon be implemented in Derinya as well. The tender processes conducted by both sides at Metehan have also been completed, which has helped ease the situation. Regarding another item, a process concerning the commencement of inspections by Bureau Veritas in relation to hellim had been pending since 2021. We are now in 2026; five years have passed, and that has also been signed. Therefore, as from June, we expect Bureau Veritas to come and begin inspections. With the decisions taken today, the establishment of a joint committee -- particularly on hellim but also applicable to other products -- has also been realised. Accordingly, we believe that a certain degree of progress has been achieved on a number of issues.”
“NICOSIA FIRST…”
“As you know, the expectation is that the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr. António Guterres, will undertake a new initiative as from July. Our perspective is based on a step-by-step approach; our first step is: ‘let us first resolve the issues that we can resolve in Nicosia’. In this regard, I once again emphasise that the symbolic and prominent issue is the opening of new crossing points. We have not yet reached the point we desire on that matter. However, on the other issues, certain steps have now been taken.
Within the framework of the developments I have just outlined, regarding the new initiative that Mr. Guterres will undertake after June, the four-point methodology remain as our second step, and the will of our people for a solution remains decisive for us.”
“ENTRY RESTRICTIONS TO TÜRKİYE ON MORE THAN 15 INDIVIDUALS HAVE BEEN LIFTED”
At the conclusion of his statement, President Erhürman also answered a question in relation to Turkish Cypriots who had been unable to enter Türkiye. President Erhürman said:
“The entry restrictions concerning a number of our friends regarding entry into Türkiye have been lifted. I personally informed them one by one. To put it in approximate terms, I am referring to more than 15 individuals. However, we will of course continue our consultations, efforts and work on this matter. As you know, this issue must be handled in a serious and calm manner.”