Nicosia: President Christodoulides held discussions with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Ant³nio Costa regarding a recent dinner with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, as reported by Government Spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis.
According to Cyprus News Agency, Letymbiotis stated that the European Commission and European Council have communicated that Turkey's interests in progressing its relationship with the European Union are directly connected to advancements on the Cyprus issue. He emphasized the need for Turkey to show a committed effort towards resolving the Cyprus issue for any tangible progress in EU-Turkey relations.
Letymbiotis highlighted that EU-Turkey engagement will persist, suggesting Turkey's interest in advancing specific topics. He reiterated the importance of the European Union and United Nations' cooperation, noting the EU's support for the UN Secretary-General's initiatives.
The Spokesperson underscored that any progress on issues Turkey raises must first see developments on the Cyprus issue. He referred to a joint statement by the Turkish Foreign Minister and EU representatives supporting the UN Secretary-General's efforts, stressing that rhetorical commitments must translate into genuine actions.
Letymbiotis clarified that Turkey must demonstrate flexibility for a multilateral meeting under the UN's auspices, aiming for the resumption of negotiations on the Cyprus issue. He reiterated the EU's stance on linking Turkey's EU relations with Cyprus progress, adopted by all 27 EU member states.
He concluded that the aim is not merely to convene meetings but to resume substantive negotiations for resolving the Cyprus issue. Cyprus remains divided since Turkey's 1974 invasion, with past UN peace talks failing to yield results. Informal meetings and negotiations have been ongoing, with further talks anticipated.