Progress in EU-Turkey relations remains inextricably linked to progress on the Cyprus issue, and the convening of an informal multilateral conference depends on Ankara’s stance, Government Spokesman, ?onstantinos Letymbiotis, said on Wednesday, commenting on contacts between the heads of European institutions and the President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
He added that the President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, spoke by phone on Tuesday with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and arrangements are being made for the two to meet next week for a comprehensive assessment of developments.
“Progress in EU-Turkey relations is fully interconnected with progress on the Cyprus issue. Certainly it is Turkey that must overcome its own intransigence,” he said.
Letymbiotis said he could not prejudge whether today’s meetings will lead to the announcement of the informal multilateral conference, but reiterated that the Greek Cypriot side is ready.
“We are ready even tomorrow for this informal multilateral to be convened, with the aim of announcing the resumption of negotiations”, he said, adding that “this depends on Turkey to demonstrate that constructive stance, that political will” both for progress in EU-Turkey relations and for progress on the Cyprus issue and the convening of the informal multilateral.
Replying to a question on whether, in the President’s phone call yesterday with von der Leyen, there was any indication that the Presidents of the European Council and the Commission would raise with the Turkish President the issue of linking Turkey’s Cyprus-related obligations as a necessary precondition for EU-Turkey progress, the Government Spokesman noted that this is already an agreed position of the European Union.
“By necessity it is a prerequisite. And this is not said only by us, but is recorded in the Conclusions of the European Council,’ he said.
He noted that the Conclusions of April 2024 set out how progress in EU-Turkey relations can be achieved, and recalled that any participation of a third country in the SAFE funding instrument requires unanimity of member states.
“Therefore, by necessity the Cyprus issue will be one of the aspects that will occupy and be at the core of this discussion, precisely because progress on the Cyprus issue is necessary for progress in EU-Turkey relations”, he said.
Referring to reports that the United States might consider selling F-35 fighter jets to Turkey, the Government Spokesman said that Nicosia is following developments closely.
“Of course we see them, we observe them, we follow them”, he said, noting that the discussion is still at an early stage and that US President Donald Trump has only stated that he will consider the issue.
He added that the NATO summit itself, and the contacts taking place there, are of concern to the international community today and yesterday, “particularly to us if we take into account that this concerns the occupying Turkey”.
Letymbiotis also said the stance of the US administration in recent years is well known for many reasons, chiefly regarding the role Turkey plays in the Cyprus area, the role it has played in the past and currently, regarding Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine and a series of other geopolitical developments and conflicts.
“The message we convey, and what we constantly promote, is international law, together with all our partners, including the United States of America, with whom we are strategic partners,” he said.
“Turkey seeks and aspires an enhanced role in the region”, the Spokesman said, noting however that, at the same time, “Turkey follows a policy of double standards, not only with respect to the blatant violation of human rights and international law in our country, but also in the wider region. And this in recent years has been noted and raised by several states, precisely concerning the role Turkey wishes to play”, the Spokesman said.
Invited to comment on the statements of the Turkish Cypriot leader regarding the incident where a Turkish Cypriot was attacked in the government-controlled areas, Letymbiotis rejected claims of nationalist motives.
“The only comment we have to make is that in no case – and this has now also been proved by the arrests of those considered suspects – were there nationalist or other motives behind this attack, which we condemned and condemn. Any form of violence is condemnable”, he said.
He also reiterated that the Cyprus issue is a matter of invasion and occupation and that in the Secretary-General of the United Nations’ efforts, particularly at this time, public statements by everyone should be guided by how they contribute to the climate the UN Secretary-General is trying to create.
The peaceful coexistence of Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots has been demonstrated in practice and that no one should, through statements or insinuations, undermine this peaceful coexistence, Letymbiotis concluded.
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 due to Turkish intransigence. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively.
After informal meetings in 2025, followed by a hiatus of several months, deliberations are underway for a new meeting in broader format to be held, as the term of the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres nears its end. María Angela Holguín, Guterres’ Personal Envoy on Cyprus, is tasked to engage with the parties.