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Nicosia Uncut
Andromachi Sophocleous & Kemal Baykallı
Society & culture66 episodes
Cold, hard, truth from the divided capital of Cyprus. Andromachi Sophocleous & Kemal Baykallı, two peace activists/political analysts from the island of Cyprus, provide a unique and informed perspective on Cyprus-related politics, undoing official narratives dominating the discussion when it comes to Cyprus.
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Nicosia Uncut – Episode 66: Guterres came. Guterres left. What now? (2/8/2026)
48:09
Details
Join Andromachi Sophocleous and Kemal Baykalli as they unpack the latest developments in the Cyprus issue following UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' recent visit to the island. With only months left in his term, Guterres met the two leaders, representatives of civil society, the technical committees, and spoke with the Guarantor Powers in an effort to inject new momentum into the peace process. The outcome? An agreement to convene a new 5+1 informal conference. While no date has yet been announced, Guterres made clear that he expects meaningful progress on confidence-building measures,…
Nicosia Uncut – Episode 65: Will negotiations resume in 2026? (Part 2) (23/12/2025)
44:15
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In the last month of 2025, Nicosia Uncut producers Andromachi Sophocleous and Kemal Baykalli produced two consecutive and special episodes. Recorded a few days after the first part, the second part focuses on the outcome of the first meeting of leaders with the UN Secretary General’s Special Envoy Maria Angela Holguin Cuellar. What are the […] The post Nicosia Uncut – Episode 65: Will negotiations resume in 2026? (Part 2) (23/12/2025) first appeared on Island Talks.
Nicosia Uncut – Episode 64: What does the election of Tufan Erhürman mean? (Part 1) (9/12/2025)
40:17
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In the last month of 2025, Nicosia Uncut producers Andromachi Sophocleous and Kemal Baykalli produced two consecutive and special episodes. The first episode focused on the election of Tufan Erhürman in the first round with 63% vote as well as the internal and external dynamics leading to the replacement of previous Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin […] The post Nicosia Uncut – Episode 64: What does the election of Tufan Erhürman mean? (Part 1) (9/12/2025) first appeared on Island Talks.
Nicosia Uncut – Episode 63: One week before the critical Turkish Cypriot election: What to expect? (13/10/2025)
58:55
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The Turkish Cypriots will go to the ballots to elect a Turkish Cypriot leader on 19 October 2025. The main contenders are the incumbent Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar, who has been adovcating a two-state solution for the solution of the Cyprus problem and Tufan Erhürman, leader of the opposition, who advocates returning to the […] The post Nicosia Uncut – Episode 63: One week before the critical Turkish Cypriot election: What to expect? (13/10/2025) first appeared on Island Talks.
Nicosia Uncut – Episode 62: UNSG Special Representative Colin Stewart answered your questions (7/8/2025)
59:27
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In this special episode of Nicosia Uncut, UN Secretary General’s outgoing Special Representative and Head of UNFICYP Colin Stewart responded questions by Andromachi Sophocleous and Kemal Baykalli, as well by the podcast audience. Is UN part of the status-quo in Cyprus? What is his assessment for the future? Do we need to revise the job-description […] The post Nicosia Uncut – Episode 62: UNSG Special Representative Colin Stewart answered your questions (7/8/2025) first appeared on Island Talks.
Nicosia Uncut – Episode 61: The Divided Island – “The generational trauma is real and profound” (16/7/2025)
36:05
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On the 51st anniversary of 1974 events, Andromachi Sophocleous and Kemal Baykalli host Cey Sesigüzel and Andreas Tokkallos, co-producers of "The Divided Island" documentary at Nicosia Uncut podcast. These two British-Cypriot filmmakers of Two Fresh Productions are hailing from both communities and they featured real stories of Cypriots from various generations. The work is a striking contrast to the official narratives and propaganda of sides and provides humanitarian stories from the past in the first part, and a vision for the future in the second. The documentary that won the Best…
Nicosia Uncut – Episode 60: Special guest Nilgün Arısan Eralp – Will Turkey and Greece finally solve their differences ? (10/7/2025)
49:57
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In this epsiode of Nicosia Uncut, Andromachi Sophocleous and Kemal Baykallı host Nilgün Arısan Eralp, Director of European Union Institute of TEPAV, a leading policy and research centre in Türkiye. Latest state of affairs in Turkish-Greek political dialogue; how will this affect the Cyprus problem? Is it possible to talk about repositioning of the EU towards Turkey? Should we expect Turkey to play an upgraded role in a possible new defence architecture in Europe? Is the EU turning a blind eye to the democratic backsliding in Turkey? What is Turkey's vision towards Cyprus? Is Israel against a…
Nicosia Uncut – Episode 59: Geneva done. What’s now for Cyprus and where is the EU in this? (25/3/2025)
44:10
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On 17 and 18 March, the Cypriot leaders and the guarantor powers met with the UN Secretary General in Geneva, Switzerland. The meeting was named as informal and nobody was sure what the expected outcome would be as the positions of the sides were clearly not bridgable. In the end, a number of confidence building measures were announced. Appointment of a new envoy was also agreed. In this episode of Nicosia Uncut, Andromachi Sophocleous and Kemal Baykalli discuss the result of the informal meeting, the new format of the Cyprus talks, geopolitical setting, strained relations on both sides of…
Nicosia Uncut – Episode 58: Cyprus problem in Geneva again: What should we expect? (22/2/2025)
48:20
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In this episode of Nicosia Uncut, Andromachi Sophocleous and Kemal Baykalli host Fiona Mullen, Director of Sapienta Economics. A 5 party conference on Cyprus is scheduled to take place on 17/18 March 2025 at the UN in Geneva. Apart from the two Cypriot sides, the Guarantor powers, Turkey, Greece and the UK will be represented. […] The post Nicosia Uncut – Episode 58: Cyprus problem in Geneva again: What should we expect? (22/2/2025) first appeared on Island Talks.
Nicosia Uncut – Episode 57: InPeace project elaborates on the bicommunal technical committees in Cyprus (20/1/2025)
47:56
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In this first Nicosia Uncut episode of 2025, Andromachi Sophocleous and Kemal Baykalli host Dr.Nasia Hadjigeorgiou and Fezile Osum to discuss the bicommunal technical committees that have been established within the framework of Cyprus problem. Both Fezile and Nasia are running the EU funded InPeace Project (Inclusive Peacebuilding: The Technical Committees in Cyprus ) that studies […] The post Nicosia Uncut – Episode 57: InPeace project elaborates on the bicommunal technical committees in Cyprus (20/1/2025) first appeared on Island Talks.
Nicosia Uncut – Episode 56: Multiparty meeting: each side sees it differently (18/11/2024)
35:56
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Following Guterres’ dinner with the Cypriot leaders in New York, an agreement has been reached to continue informal meetings with the participation of the Guarantor powers. The participation of the UK might not be at the same level as the other two, as the official position of the Turkish/Turkish Cypriot side has been for the […] The post Nicosia Uncut – Episode 56: Multiparty meeting: each side sees it differently (18/11/2024) first appeared on Island Talks.
Nicosia Uncut – Episode 55: A dinner, but hardly a date (7/10/2024)
38:30
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The two Cypriot leaders have agreed to meet for a “social dinner” at the presence of the UN Secretary General. The expectations are low as sides have shown no signs of departure from their respective positions. While the Turkish Cypriot side is adamant on their so called “two states” position, which is vocally and openly […] The post Nicosia Uncut – Episode 55: A dinner, but hardly a date (7/10/2024) first appeared on Island Talks.
Nicosia Uncut – Episode 54: July is the month of Cyprob (1/7/2024)
52:12
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After a short break, Nicosia Uncut is back with Andromachi Sophocleous and Kemal Baykalli discussing the recent attempts of UN envoy Maria Angela Holguin with the Cypriot leaders. There isn’t a lot of hope for a breakthrough for ther resumption of talks but are we going to see any result at all? A confidence building […] The post Nicosia Uncut – Episode 54: July is the month of Cyprob (1/7/2024) first appeared on Island Talks.
Nicosia Uncut – Episode 53: Special guest Fiona Mullen: How can we revitalize the solution process ? (6/3/2023)
41:51
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In this episode of Nicosia Uncut; Andromachi Sophocleous and Kemal Baykalli host Fiona Mullen, Director of Sapienta Economics and the producer of Figure It podcast. Fiona has been studying, advising and in the past working on the Cyprus settlement process for more than two decades now. In this episode, they discuss what needs to be […] The post Nicosia Uncut – Episode 53: Special guest Fiona Mullen: How can we revitalize the solution process ? (6/3/2023) first appeared on Island Talks.
Nicosia Uncut – Episode 52: Million dollar question: What is Holguin’s endgame? (1/2/2024)
44:55
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UN Secretary General’s Personal Envoy on Cyprus Maria Angela Holguín Cuéllar has arrived on the island and started her work by paying a visit to the Cypriot leaders. This new initiative to revive the talks, which collapsed in Crans Montana conference in 2017, is defined as an attempt to find a “common ground” for the […] The post Nicosia Uncut – Episode 52: Million dollar question: What is Holguin’s endgame? (1/2/2024) first appeared on Island Talks.
Nicosia Uncut – Episode 51: Is there light at the end of the tunnel? (10/12/2023)
38:51
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Turkish-Greek reapproachment, appointment of a new envoy for Cyprus talks, ongoing failure of the international community to address burning issues in the world and establishment of a new political party in Cyprus. In this last episode of the year, Nicosia Uncut producers Andromachi Sophocleous and Kemal Baykalli look back to 2023 with a critical eye. […] The post Nicosia Uncut – Episode 51: Is there light at the end of the tunnel? (10/12/2023) first appeared on Island Talks.
Nicosia Uncut – Episode 50: Frozen! (14/11/2023)
25:39
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Is Cyprus a “frozen” conflict? What are the risk of it getting melted? As the so called frozen and fluid conflicts turning into active conflicts everywhere in the world, shouldn’t Cypriots be worried? What are the lessons the Cypriots and the international community take from the ongoing conflics in Ukraine, Nogorno Karabakh and Israel/Palestine? In […] The post Nicosia Uncut – Episode 50: Frozen! (14/11/2023) first appeared on Island Talks.
Nicosia Uncut – Episode 49: Status-quo in Cyprus is an illusion (21/8/2023)
45:51
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The UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus has been attacked by the Turkish Cypriot police in the buffer zone close to Pyla village during an ongoing work of fixing a road to connect the bicommunal village to the Turkish Cypriot controlled areas. While the Turkish & Turkish Cypriot side citing humanitarian reasons, the international community as […] The post Nicosia Uncut – Episode 49: Status-quo in Cyprus is an illusion (21/8/2023) first appeared on Island Talks.
Nicosia Uncut – Episode 48: Drowning in elections – CyProb anyone? (31/5/2023)
45:53
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We are drowned in elections. Elections in Turkey, Greece and Cyprus. Do we have any time or window of opportunity to discuss politics – Cyprus problem in particular? In this episode of Nicosia Uncut, Andromachi Sophocleous and Kemal Baykallı evaluate the results of elections in Turkey and Greece as well as the upcoming by-elections in […] The post Nicosia Uncut – Episode 48: Drowning in elections – CyProb anyone? (31/5/2023) first appeared on Island Talks.
Nicosia Uncut – Episode 47: Age of apolitical & discussion on unilateral CBMs in CY (30/4/2023)
40:50
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It has been 20 years since the crossings across the division line in Cyprus started. It is clear that the existing crossings are not enough. Should we expect unilareral initiatives by the Greek Cypriot side on this? While the elections in Turkey are underway, is it possible to talk about a new era for the […] The post Nicosia Uncut – Episode 47: Age of apolitical & discussion on unilateral CBMs in CY (30/4/2023) first appeared on Island Talks.
Nicosia Uncut – Episode 46: Turkish opposition chooses the candidate to challenge Erdoğan (19/3/2023)
45:03
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Election in Cyprus is over as Turkey is now on the eve of the historical election that will take place on 14 May 2023. In this episode of Nicosia Uncut, Andromachi Sophocleous and Kemal Baykallı discuss the cabinet of the newly elected Greek Cypriot president. Turkish opposition finally agreed on their candidate: CHP leader Kemal […] The post Nicosia Uncut – Episode 46: Turkish opposition chooses the candidate to challenge Erdoğan (19/3/2023) first appeared on Island Talks.
Nicosia Uncut – Episode 45: Nikos Christodoulides is the new president of RoC. What now? (17/2/2023)
48:21
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While the Turkish Cypriots are mourning for 49 members of their community, including the entire members of two junior volleyball school teams from Famagusta, who lost their lives in the major earthquake that hit Turkey; second round of presidential campaign has been concluded on the other side of the divide. Nikos Christodoulides has been elected […] The post Nicosia Uncut – Episode 45: Nikos Christodoulides is the new president of RoC. What now? (17/2/2023) first appeared on Island Talks.
Nicosia Uncut – Episode 44: 2023 – the year of elections! (26/1/2023)
35:24
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In this first episode of 2023, Nicosia Uncut producers Andromachi Sophocleous and Kemal Baykallı analyze the upcoming elections in Cyprus, Turkey and Greece as well as the recent local elections in north. While the positions of presidential candidates in the Republic of Cyprus are more clear now, in the context of Cyprus problem not much […] The post Nicosia Uncut – Episode 44: 2023 – the year of elections! (26/1/2023) first appeared on Island Talks.
Nicosia Uncut – Episode 43: Sleepwalking towards destruction – civil society is resisting (17/11/2022)
34:46
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In this episode of Nicosia Uncut, Andromachi Sophocleous and Kemal Baykallı criticize the political establishments on both sides of the divide and highlight the efforts of the civil society to resist partition. Political establishments on the both sides of the divide fail to address the division of the country while the forces of status quo […] The post Nicosia Uncut – Episode 43: Sleepwalking towards destruction – civil society is resisting (17/11/2022) first appeared on Island Talks.
Nicosia Uncut – Episode 42: Presidential race with no politics (3/10/2022)
47:21
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In this episode of Nicosia Uncut, Andromachi Sophocleous and Kemal Baykalli shed a critical light on the presidential race in Republic of Cyprus: seems like the political programs are not the main pillars of this elections. A rather superficial race on slogans, characters and personalities, the candidates, save for exceptions, do not offer tangible political programs to the voters. The US has lifted the arms embargo on Cyprus and this created further tensions in the area which is witnessing harsh exchanges between the politicians in Turkey and Greece. Turkey continues to exert pressure to…
Nicosia Uncut – Episode 41: Battle over the records of failed talks (14/8/2022)
36:37
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It is now crystal clear that solution of the Cyprus problem was actually within the reach during 2016 and 2017 summits, it took five years for the Greek Cypriot politics to question the Greek Cypriot leadership's share of responsibility in the failure. While the establishment is fighting the last ditch battle to save Anastasiades and his team from any responsibility by throwing leaked minutes one after another to support their line of interpretation, every new statement from the negotiation team members, every leaked document prove otherwise. In this episode of Nicosia Uncut, Andromachi…
Nicosia Uncut – Episode 40: Presidential race gearing up; yet another UN representative under attack (26/7/2022)
31:44
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After a summer brake, Nicosia Uncut is back with the latest political developments in Cyprus. Three leading presidential candidates participated in the first debate on PIK, Cyprus state channel, discussing their perspectives on the Cyprus problem. All three candidates, namely DISY leader Averof Neofytou, AKEL's candidate former negotiator Andreas Mavroyiannis and former Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikos Christodoulides, have been the main figures in current President Anastasides' administration. On the other hand, the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres have sent out his 6-monthly report on…
Nicosia Uncut – Episode 39: RoC elections – three candidates of the establishment (16/5/2022)
41:22
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Legacy of Anastasiades seems to be dominating the political scene in Cyprus in the coming term as well. Early favorites of the Presidential race, DISY's Neophytou, currently independent Christodoules and AKEL's potential candidate Mavroyiannis have been the aces of Anastasiades' team during his rule. In this episode of Nicosia Uncut, Andromachi Sophocleous and Kemal Baykallı shed a critical light on the system that fails to generate strong alternative candidates backed by the leading political parties in Cyprus. The latest meltdown of institutions and the system in the Turkish Cypriot…
Nicosia Uncut – Episode 38: Turkey firms its grip on Turkish Cypriot politics (3/5/2022)
36:45
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In this episode of Nicosia Uncut Andromachi Sophocleous and Kemal Baykallı discuss how Turkey is firming its grip in the Turkish Cypriot politics as the right-wing coalition of UBP leader Dr Faiz Sucuoğlu collapses yet again due to his apparent fall-out with cabinet members supported by Turkey’s AKP leadership. True, this is not the first […] The post Nicosia Uncut – Episode 38: Turkey firms its grip on Turkish Cypriot politics (3/5/2022) first appeared on Island Talks.
Nicosia Uncut – Episode 37: Discussing effectiveness of the UN in Cyprus with Dr.Alexandra Novosseloff (15/4/2022)
35:02
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In this episode of Nicosia Uncut, Andromachi Sophocleous and Kemal Baykallı host Dr.Alexandra Novosseloff, the author of the EPON report titled "Assessing the Effectiveness of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force (UNFICYP) and the Office of the Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on Cyprus (OSASG)". What does the report entail? What kind of work does the UN do behind the scenes to prevent crisis to occur? What are the relations between the conflict-prevention and peacemaking in the Cypriot context? How does the "fear of recognition" affect the work of the UN? The post Nicosia Uncut –…