TRNC Authorities Announce Another Condition for Resuming Cyprus Talks

Erhan Arıklı, the chairman of the Rebirth Party (YDP) and Minister of Public Works and Transportation, has outlined a new condition for restarting negotiations on the Cyprus issue. This brings the total to four conditions for talks to resume.

Arıklı explained that previously, TRNC President Ersin Tatar had presented three conditions to the UN Secretary-General António Guterres for the Turkish Cypriots to return to the negotiation table. These included the resumption of direct flights, the re-establishment of business ties, and the initiation of direct trade.
Now, Arıklı is adding a fourth condition: the implementation of a project to connect the TRNC and Turkey via an electricity cable.

“Connecting the island to Turkey through an electricity cable is of critical importance for both the Greek Cypriots and us,” he stressed. “It’s no secret that the Republic of Cyprus needs 1.9 billion euros for its ‘Grand Sea Connection Project’ and is struggling to secure funding. By contrast, connecting the island to the mainland via the TRNC and Turkey would be much cheaper and could be completed in a far shorter timeframe.”

It’s worth noting that recent reports suggest that a trilateral meeting on the Cyprus issue may only happen in October, after the UN summit in New York. TRNC authorities continue to push for a 4+1 format for these talks.