The problem is policy, not a lack of trust

Opinion Cyprus problemNikos ChristodoulidespoliticsTufan Erhurman The problem is policy, not a lack of trust Erxioyrman Proedros Xeirapsia Relevant News A second ordeal for families: pay to save your loved one, then fight the state for it 9 September 2026 The problem is policy, not a lack of trust 9 September 2026 EU states seek compromise on new taxes to fund next budget 9 September 2026 Phileleftheros Editorial 9 September 2026 FacebookXWhatsAppEmailPrintViber The first meeting between President Nikos Christodoulides and Tufan Erhurman, leader of the occupation regime, sent the right signals: the two sides agreed to meet more often, a sign there’s real appetite to get this moving. Last week’s meeting had to be pushed back after the tragedy at sea off occupied Kyrenia, and was rescheduled for today. But meetings on their own don’t mean much. You could hold one every day and still walk away with nothing. The Cyprus problem’s long history has proved that again and again: initiative after initiative, contact after contact, and precious little to show for any of it. What actually needs to happen isn’t a mystery. Turkey has to shift its stance. Nicosia has been clear from day one, and has backed that up with action, not just words. We’re hoping history won’t repeat itself this time, and that these talks finally deliver what everyone’s after: a way through the deadlock, and a return to real negotiations. That hope holds even though the mood right now is far from good, and Turkey’s own conduct is largely to blame for that. Beyond the inflammatory rhetoric coming out of an increasingly aggressive Turkey, there’s a deeper issue at play. The occupying side seems to think a good atmosphere means the Republic of Cyprus should look away when illegal activity happens. That’s not going to happen, and Turkey needs to get that through its head. Everyone keeps talking up Confidence Building Measures as the thing that will finally break this deadlock. But let’s cut to the chase: what’s actually going on here? Is there really a lack of trust between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots? Not at street level, there isn’t. That’s been obvious since 2003, when the crossings first opened up. Not one problem came out of it. Instead of building on that, some people would rather bury it. So here’s our take: the problem isn’t trust, it’s policy, and the approaches that keep bad habits alive. The real problem is Turkey’s continued occupation of part of the Republic of Cyprus, full stop. Everything else, every obstacle, every headache, flows from that one fact. Trust doesn’t get built by dressing up cooperation between two supposedly separate sides. It gets built by ending the injustice and putting a stop to the illegality. Everyone with a stake in this needs to understand that, and take a hard look at where things actually stand in society. Subscribe to our Newsletter Latest News A second ordeal for families: pay to save your loved one, then fight the state for it EU states seek compromise on new taxes to fund next budget Cyprus records wettest August since 1901 as storms leave dead or missing at sea EU considers restrictions on second homes to tackle housing crisis Two arrested after Nicosia driver rams victims, flees scene Cyprus has EU’s lowest suicide rate, Eurostat says Overnight pharmacies on Wednesday, September 9 Follow en.philenews on Google News and be the first to know all the news about Cyprus and the world.