Nicosia has described as ‘important’ the joint statement by senior EU officials and Turkey’s Foreign Minister, Hakan Fidan, which expresses ‘support’ to the efforts of the UN Secretary-General regarding the Cyprus issue.
Sources, speaking to the Cyprus News Agency, described as ‘important’ the references in the joint statement supporting the UN Secretary-General’s efforts on the Cyprus issue, as well as the emphasis on the importance of regional stability.
The timing of the meeting was also noted as particularly important, coming at a critical juncture for the Cyprus issue, as the UN Secretary-General and his Personal Envoy, María Ángela Holguín, are working towards convening a meeting in a broader format with the aim of announcing the resumption of formal negotiations.
The same sources also referred to the EU-Turkey dimension, as the joint statement includes a reference to EU-Turkey relations. They stressed that the European Union has, and should continue to have, a meaningful role to play in efforts to resolve the Cyprus issue. They noted that the EU possesses a range of instruments within the framework of its relations with Turkey that could be used as incentives for Ankara to move towards a settlement of the Cyprus problem.
The sources also recalled the conclusions of the European Council of April 2024, which link progress in EU-Turkey relations to developments on the Cyprus issue. The conclusions refer to the advancement of EU-Turkey relations in a phased, proportionate and reversible manner.
On Tuesday evening, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, the Commissioner for Enlargement, Marta Kos, the Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration, Magnus Brunner, and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan issued a joint statement following the conclusion of the three EU officials’ visit to Ankara.
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.