The United Nations and the European Union deem that there may be room for progress on the Cyprus issue, competent sources have told CNA, adding that the Greek Cypriot side is conveying to both that, so far, Ankara’s stance, or the messages it is sending are not in that direction.
CNA has learnt that the United Nations and the EU estimate that there may be room for progress on the Cyprus issue, and that the Greek Cypriot side conveyed to both that, so far, Ankara’s stance, or the messages it is sending are not towards that direction.
The Greek Cypriot side, according to the same sources, notes the recent Navtex issued by Turkey for seismic surveys related to the plan to construct a natural gas pipeline from the Turkish coast to the occupied territories in Cyprus.
The Navtex does not seem to concern the Cypriot Exclusive Economic Zone, but is a problematic development due to the project for which the area was reserved, they said.
The same sources noted that the fact that this was announced at the same time as the visit to Cyprus by the UN Secretary-General is something that should be taken into account, including by Guterres himself, who will be in Cyprus 27-29 of July.
They also referred to Ankara’s efforts to decouple progress in EU – Turkey relations from progress in the Cyprus issue.
They said that during the contacts in Turkey between European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, the latter sought to decouple progress in Euro-Turkish relations from progress in the Cyprus issue.
Both von der Leyen and Costa clearly noted that in order to have progress in EU-Turkey relations, there must first be progress in the Cyprus issue.
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. Executive Vice-President Raffaele Fitto acts as the European Commission’s Special Representative for Cyprus, succeeding EU special envoy Johannes Hahn.