Letter to UN Secretary-General: The Only Viable Option is a Bi-communal Federal Structure

In the letter, co-signed by Selma Eylem and Christos Efthymiou, the initiative stressed the importance of ongoing efforts to advance the negotiations and welcomed the visit of Rosemary DiCarlo, UN Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs. The letter also highlighted the planned 5-party "informal" meeting in Geneva as a significant step toward resolution.

The letter noted that small positive developments could open the way for more comprehensive steps, provided the correct conditions are met. Despite the ongoing negative political atmosphere, the initiative affirmed that both Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots, through local-level platforms, continue to believe that a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation based on political equality is the only legitimate path to a peaceful future for Cyprus.

The letter emphasized the necessity of maintaining agreements reached through long-standing negotiations, including those made at Crans Montana, and called for political will to close the existing gaps. It claimed that the 6-point framework proposed at Crans Montana remained an effective path to achieving results.

Additionally, the letter acknowledged the UN's efforts to overcome the deadlock, particularly in fostering bi-communal movement and expressed the goal of enabling both Turkish and Greek Cypriots to express their will for a united Cyprus effectively.

The letter also underscored the urgent need for the opening of new crossing points, criticizing the leaders for failing to find solutions in this area.

In closing, the letter welcomed the UN Security Council's recent decisions to increase efforts toward finding common ground and involving civil society in the process. It expressed hope that the UN would regard civil society as a key stakeholder in Cyprus' future.