The Greek Cypriot leader, Nikos Christodoulides, recently presented an eight-point package of proposals to Turkish Cypriot President Ersin Tatar. While these proposals may appear constructive on the surface, a closer analysis reveals significant concerns, contradictions, and omissions that demand attention.

 

Below, each point is carefully examined and responded to from our Turkish Cypriot perspective, using historical, legal, and geopolitical contexts.

 

1. Opening a Crossing Point at Haspolat  
At first glance, opening a crossing point at Haspolat (Mia Milia) seems like a positive initiative to improve mobility between the TRNC and the Greek-administered south. However, history teaches us to approach such offers with caution. Crossing points have often been politicised by the Greek Cypriot side, either through deliberate delays in implementation or subsequent restrictions. Furthermore, Haspolat lies near critical TRNC infrastructure, including the ODTÜ campus and significant water supply lines from Türkiye. Unfettered access by Greek Cypriots could pose risks to national security and lead to future disputes.  

 

TCE view: Any discussion on new crossings must first address the Greek Cypriot side’s ongoing practice of unilaterally blocking Turkish Cypriot access to specific areas, such as the closure of the Derinya beach area for years. Additionally, Greek Cypriots must lift all existing embargoes on the TRNC before making such proposals.  

 

2. Establishing a Crossing Point at Gaziler (simultaneously with Haspolat)  
Similarly, the proposed Gaziler crossing raises questions of intent. While opening dual crossings may create the illusion of goodwill, Greek Cypriot obstructionism at existing checkpoints suggests otherwise. For instance, Greek Cypriot authorities frequently discriminate against TRNC citizens of Turkish origin, often refusing them entry to the south. Such practices are not only discriminatory but also inhumane. Without assurances of fair treatment and equal access for all TRNC citizens, the simultaneous opening of Haspolat and Gaziler risks perpetuating inequality.  

 

TCE View: If the Greek Cypriot leadership is serious about easing movement, they must stop discriminating against TRNC citizens of Turkish origin and provide unrestricted access for all. Equality at existing crossings must be established before new ones can be discussed.  

 

3 & 4. Creating Crossings or Roads Without Checkpoints in Akıncılar and Erenköy  
The concept of “roads without checkpoints” in Akıncılar and Erenköy is unrealistic and even dangerous. Akıncılar is a vital enclave of the TRNC, surrounded by Greek Cypriot territory. Roads without checkpoints would effectively erode the TRNC’s sovereignty and make Akıncılar vulnerable to Greek Cypriot interference. Similarly, Erenköy (Kokkina), a historic Turkish Cypriot stronghold, represents a symbol of resistance and Turkish Cypriot identity. Removing checkpoints in such a sensitive area could lead to provocations, as Greek Cypriots have repeatedly tried to undermine Turkish Cypriot claims to Erenköy.  

 

TCE View: These proposals are thinly veiled attempts to erode the TRNC’s separate status under the guise of “cooperation.” The TRNC cannot allow its enclaves to become security risks due to unchecked Greek Cypriot access. Instead of discussing the removal of checkpoints, efforts should focus on ensuring that Turkish Cypriot citizens can cross existing checkpoints without discrimination, including those of Turkish origin.  

 

5. Implementation of the Pile Agreement  
The Pile (Pyla) agreement pertains to the joint administration of the only mixed village in Cyprus, but the Greek Cypriot side has repeatedly violated its terms. Recent attempts to construct a road from the Greek-administered side to Pile were undertaken without consultation with Turkish Cypriot authorities, directly breaching past agreements. These unilateral actions erode trust and undermine the possibility of joint administration.  

 

TCE View: The TRNC has always advocated for equitable governance of Pile. However, implementation must begin with the Greek Cypriot side honouring previous agreements and refraining from provocative actions. Additionally, the Greek Cypriots must release the names of persons killed and buried in mass graves during fighting among themselves, such as during the EOKA B uprisings. Truth and transparency must be applied to all sides for reconciliation to progress.  

 

6. Establishing a Truth Commission for Missing Persons  
On the surface, creating a Truth Commission for missing persons seems like a humane and noble goal. Yet the Greek Cypriot leadership’s narrative around missing persons is deeply politicised, routinely portraying Turkish Cypriots as aggressors while ignoring the atrocities committed by Greek Cypriot militias, including EOKA, against Turkish Cypriots. A balanced approach is essential to ensure historical accuracy and healing.  

 

TCE View: Any Truth Commission must first acknowledge the nearly 500 Turkish Cypriots who remain missing due to Greek Cypriot violence, some of whom were last seen in UN-controlled areas. Furthermore, the Greek Cypriots must account for mass graves resulting from their own internal conflicts during the 1960s and 1970s. Without this recognition, such a commission risks becoming a tool of propaganda rather than reconciliation. 

 

7. Creating a Bi-communal Committee for Youth  
Engaging youth in peacebuilding is a laudable idea. However, past bi-communal initiatives have been marred by Greek Cypriot attempts to dominate the narrative, marginalising Turkish Cypriot voices. Youth projects funded by international organisations often exclude Turkish Cypriot historical perspectives or use the Greek Cypriot dialect and symbols, alienating TRNC participants.

 

TCE View: For such a committee to succeed, it must ensure equal representation and mutual respect for both communities’ histories, cultures, and aspirations. Any initiative must explicitly reject the Greek Cypriot monopoly over “Cypriot identity” to foster genuine cooperation.  

 

8. Forming an Advisory Committee on the Cyprus Issue, Consisting of Civil Society Members  
The creation of an advisory committee on the Cyprus issue sounds appealing, but the proposed composition raises red flags. Greek Cypriot civil society groups have historically aligned with their government’s maximalist positions, leaving little room for genuine dialogue. Furthermore, bypassing official TRNC representation by empowering “civil society” risks undermining President Tatar’s role as the elected representative of Turkish Cypriots.  

TCE View: Any advisory committee must explicitly recognise the TRNC as an equal stakeholder. Otherwise, this proposal appears as a Trojan horse to sideline Turkish Cypriot leadership in the ongoing political process.  

 

TCE Broader Analysis: A Pattern of Empty Promises and Hidden Agendas  

The Greek Cypriot proposals follow a familiar pattern of superficial goodwill gestures that mask deeper political objectives. History offers abundant examples of the Greek Cypriot leadership weaponising diplomacy to consolidate its international position while ignoring the rights of Turkish Cypriots. For instance, the Greek Cypriot rejection of the 2004 Annan Plan, despite overwhelming Turkish Cypriot support, illustrates their unwillingness to compromise.  

 

Furthermore, these proposals fail to address fundamental issues, such as the Greek Cypriot side’s refusal to lift its economic embargo on the TRNC or its rejection of Turkish Cypriots’ sovereign equality. True progress requires addressing these systemic injustices, not piecemeal initiatives that distract from the core dispute.  

TCE Conclusion  

While dialogue is always welcome, these proposals offer little more than symbolic gestures designed to placate international observers rather than genuinely address Turkish Cypriot concerns. Real progress requires the Greek Cypriot leadership to recognise the TRNC’s sovereignty and respect Turkish Cypriot rights as equal partners on the island.  

 

The TRNC must approach these proposals with caution, insisting on concrete guarantees of equality and mutual respect. Any genuine peacebuilding must address the ongoing embargoes, ensure unrestricted movement for all TRNC citizens—including those of Turkish origin—and guarantee equal treatment at all crossings. If Christodoulides is serious about peace, his government must demonstrate a commitment to ending discriminatory policies and engaging in negotiations based on the principle of two states.  

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References  
- Politisnews, "The eight proposals presented by Nikos Christodoulides to Ersin Tatar," 20 January 2025.  
- United Nations, Reports on Missing Persons in Cyprus.  
- Annan Plan Referendum, United Nations Archives.  
- Historical records of EOKA atrocities against Turkish Cypriots.