Dialogos

Izcan: Negotiation process must start from where it left off in Crans Montana

Published January 19, 2026, 18:02
Izcan: Negotiation process must start from where it left off in Crans Montana

The President of the United Cyprus Party (UCP), Izet Izcan, stated that the negotiation process for the Cyprus issue must begin from the point where it stopped in Crans Montana, rejecting the imposition of preconditions. He criticized the delay in starting the process, despite Tufan Erhurman's rise to leadership of the Turkish Cypriot community, and described reports of “technical work” as unacceptable. Izcan expressed the view that Turkish Cypriots have the greatest need for a solution and emphasized that the recent “election process” in the occupied territories demonstrated the community’s desire for a federal solution, calling on Erhurman to respect this popular mandate. Furthermore, Izcan referred to the stagnation in Confidence-Building Measures (CBMs), calling on both sides to take steps to improve the daily lives of citizens. He stressed that peace and a solution are essential and assured that the UCP will continue to closely monitor developments. Izcan's statement comes at a time of increased tension in the Cyprus negotiations, with the two sides maintaining different approaches to resolving the issue. The emphasis he places on restarting negotiations from Crans Montana suggests an attempt to keep the discussion within a specific framework, while his criticism of the Turkish Cypriot leadership reflects a desire to promote a federal solution. Overall, Izet Izcan's statement is a clear expression of the UCP's position on the Cyprus issue, emphasizing the need for an immediate start to negotiations, respect for the popular will, and the promotion of peace and a solution.