There was zero progress on the resumption of talks in the first half of 2019. Any prospect for a resumption of talks before June was also put on ice early in the year due to the European elections slated for the end of May, and elections in Turkey.

In February, Greece and Turkey agreed try and defuse tensions through dialogue, including Cyprus but the continued dispute over hydrocarbons exploration and exploitation in the Eastern Mediterranean remained a thorny issue.

Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci met at the residence of UN Special Representative Elizabeth Spehar on February 26 to discuss the terms of reference but nothing substantial came from the meeting other than a feeble attempt to make it look like they were achieving something.

They met again in August in Nicosia and agreed to continue a dialogue and engage with UN envoy Jane Holl Lute but they were not getting along at all.

April 2019: Rhetoric between the leaders worsens

In November, the UNSG, Antonio Guterres and the two leaders met for an informal dinner in Berlin to discuss the way forward but again, could not agree on the “terms of reference”. Guterres said it was the first time he had met with the two leaders jointly since Crans-Montana. The purpose was to “take stock”.

2019 a decisive year for the talks, well, sort of

The UN noted in its year-end report that tensions had also increased over developments related to the fenced-off part of Famagusta, Varosha after it was announced in June that the Turkish Cypriot authorities would conduct an inventory study as a first step towards its potential reopening, followed by visits to the closed-off area by journalists and by four ministers from Turkey which were facilitated by Turkish Cypriot authorities.