President Christodoulides’ proposal on the Cyprus issue and Germany’s involvement, to which German Chancellor Friedrich Merz referred to during a joint press conference they gave on Friday in Berlin concerns the EU – Turkish relations framework and the possible visa liberalisation for a category of Turkish citizens and at the same time reconsidering the approach of Turkish ports for vessels under Cypriot flag, reliable sources said here on Friday.
It concerns, the same sources say, matters of mutual interest in relation with the EU and Turkey and respective steps towards Cyprus.
The possibility of Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan or even Turkish President Tayyip Erdoan being invited to take part at Gymnich, was also discussed, the sources add, noting that “the Chancellor considers it a very good action and a good idea which could be the beginning for further steps.”
During the meeting with German Chancellor in Berlin, the sources say, President Christodoulides expressed satisfaction for the principled stance Germany maintains on the Cyprus issue and its all-time support of the UN framework and the efforts undertaken for the resumption of negotiations at the point where they were interrupted in Crans Montana.
He also expressed gratitude, they add, over Germany’s support at the Council of Europe as to the judgement of ECHR on the property rights of displaced people.
President Christodoulides briefed the German Chancellor on recent developments on the Cyprus problem and in particular after the “elections” in the Turkish occupied areas as well as about the next meeting he will have with UN SG’s Personal Envoy Maria Angela Holguin in the first ten days of December, according to the same sources.
They discussed the Republic of Cyprus’ approach on EU – Turkish relations. “We prefer a Turkey which will be as close as possible to the EU and its values,” the President is said to have told Chancellor Merz, as well as recalling the European Council’s Conclusions of April 2024 which clearly set out the link between progress in EU -Turkish relations in combination with substantive progress at the Cyprus issue.
Turkey, the sources point out, “must take substantive steps, in particular in relation to agreeing the agreed framework, as is defined by the UN SC resolutions, in order for there to be respective progress in the chapters that interest it.”
The Republic of Cyprus, they add, “has proven to date its constructive approach through a series of actions and initiatives and with the same responsibility and honesty we will behave as the EU Council presiding country in 2026 vis a vis Turkey.”
“We expect signs and steps on the part of Turkey, they say.
President Christodoulides is also said to have informed the Chancellor that he will be visiting Ukraine on December 4, where he will have a meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenski, in the framework of the assumption of the EU Council Presidency.
He also reportedly underlined the need for effective implementation of the policy of sanctions against Russia, pointing out that it is a common secret that Turkey helps to a great extent the circumvention of sanctions and benefits from this practice while at the same time undermining the sanctions policy. To this extent, the President presented specific information about companies in Turkey which play an important role in the circumvention of sanctions.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively.