Nikos Christodoulides on the Cyprus Issue: “Efforts Are Not Stalled” — New Momentum Toward a Solution

Diplomatic efforts underway to resume talks with UN and EU, ahead of an expanded conference and crucial meetings in Brussels.

The Cyprus issueCyprus issue, as a complex web of contacts and processes is taking shape, involving the UN, the European Union, and the parties directly involved. The President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides is seeking to capitalize on the current window of political opportunity, by highlighting as a key objective the return of the talks process to a path of substantive resumption, following years of stagnation since the collapse of the Crans-Montana talks. In this context, contacts in European and international capitals take on greater significance, while the linking of Euro-Turkish relations to the Cyprus issue is emerging as a critical tool for exerting political pressure, at a juncture where the balance of power remains fragile and the outcome remains uncertain.

Processes regarding the Cyprus issue are in full swing, with the aim of convening an expanded conference, during which, according to Cyprus President Nicos Christodoulides, the resumption of talks could be announced, according to ProtoThema.gr.

The reason the process has stalled

The Cypriot President, in remarks to reporters, rejected the assessment that the process has stalled due to the postponement of the schedule of meetings by the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy, María Ángela Olguín.

““The only thing that is certain is that the effort is not stalling; the effort continues,” Mr. Christodoulides said, noting that Ms. Olguín will travel to Brussels on July 13, while diplomatic processes are ongoing and in conjunction with broader contacts concerning Turkey.

Nicosia Sees a Critical Juncture

Nikos Christodoulides spoke of a “very critical juncture,” emphasizing that Nicosia is in constant communication both in Cyprus and in New York and Brussels.

As he said, the goal remains the same: “to achieve a positive outcome.” According to the Cypriot President, according to the Cypriot President, is none other than the resumption of negotiations on the Cyprus issue, which have essentially been frozen since the collapse of the Crans-Montana talks in 2017.

The Cypriot President’s reference to an expanded conference points to a format similar to the 5+1 process, with the participation of the two communities, the three guarantor powers, and the UN. Nicosia’s goal is for such a meeting not to be limited to yet another informal exchange of views, but to lead to an announcement of the resumption of talks from the point where they were suspended.

The Link Between EU-Turkey Relations and the Cyprus Issue
N. Christodoulides recalled that the current momentum, as he described it, stemmed from Nicosia’s effort to link progress on Euro-Turkish relations with progress on the Cyprus issue.

““We had said from the outset that our goal was to link potential developments in EU-Turkey relations—since Turkey considers progress on these issues a strategic objective—with the Cyprus issue,” he noted.

The Cypriot government believes that this link was reflected in the conclusions of the April 2024 European Council, when the EU expressed its readiness to develop a cooperative relationship with Turkey, but within the framework of a stable and secure environment in the Eastern Mediterranean and subject to the Cyprus issue.

For Nicosia, this is the key leverage against Ankara. Turkey is seeking progress in areas related to its relations with the European Union, ranging from the customs union to political dialogue and entry visas. The Republic of Cyprus, for its part, is attempting to make it clear that there can be no substantial upgrade in EU-Turkey relations while the Cyprus issue remains unresolved and Turkey insists on the “two-state” solution.

Olgin’s Role
The UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy has taken on the difficult task of exploring common ground, holding talks in Nicosia, Ankara, Athens, Brussels, and New York. The postponement of her visit to Brussels to July 13 is not viewed by Nicosia as a negative development, but rather as part of the ongoing consultations.

The President of Cyprus insisted that “progress is being made” and expressed hope that there would be a positive response from all sides. This statement is directed primarily at the Turkish side, which continues to put forward demands for recognition of sovereign equality and equal international status for the pseudo-state, positions that are unacceptable to both Nicosia and the UN as a basis for resuming talks.

The Cypriot government is trying to keep the process alive without giving the impression that an agreement has already been reached to resume substantive negotiations. In practice, Nicosia is seeking to use the UN’s initiative and the EU’s involvement to create conditions under which Ankara would face political consequences if it rejects the process.

A difficult puzzle with many decision-making centers
Despite statements of optimism, the situation remains complex. Turkey insists that the federal solution has been exhausted, while the Greek Cypriot side and international legitimacy remain committed to the framework of UN Security Council resolutions calling for a bicommunal, bizonal federation.

The new effort is therefore walking a fine line. On the one hand, there is the UN’s desire to determine whether a fresh start is possible. On the other hand, Nicosia wants to leverage the European factor, knowing that Turkey is interested in upgrading its relations with the EU, but does not appear ready to abandon its “two-state” rhetoric.

Nikos Christodoulides is attempting to present the process as the result of a Cypriot diplomatic initiative rather than simply the management of a UN effort. This is also significant in Cyprus’s domestic political landscape, where the government is under pressure to demonstrate that the momentum surrounding the Cyprus issue is not merely procedural but can yield political results.

For now, Nicosia is keeping public expectations low but insists that the process has not stalled. The next milestone is María Ángela Olguín’s meetings in Brussels on July 13 and the subsequent consultations regarding the possibility of an expanded conference. It will become clear then whether the momentum of recent weeks can be transformed into a genuine political process or whether it will simply be added to a long list of half-hearted efforts.