Diplomatic efforts underway to resume talks<\/b> with UN and EU<\/b>, ahead of an expanded conference<\/b> and crucial meetings in Brussels<\/b>.<\/p>\n
The Cyprus issueCyprus issue<\/b>, as a complex web of contacts and processes<\/b> is taking shape, involving the UN, the European Union, and the parties directly involved<\/b>. The President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides<\/b> is seeking to capitalize on the current window of political opportunity<\/b>, by highlighting as a key objective the return of the talks process<\/b> to a path of substantive resumption, following years of stagnation since the collapse of the Crans-Montana talks<\/b>. In this context, contacts in European and international capitals<\/b> take on greater significance<\/b>, while the linking of Euro-Turkish relations to the Cyprus issue<\/b> is emerging as a critical tool for exerting political pressure<\/b>, at a juncture where the balance of power remains fragile and the outcome remains uncertain<\/b>.<\/p>\n
Processes regarding the Cyprus issue are in full swing<\/b>, with the aim of convening an expanded conference<\/b>, during which, according to Cyprus President Nicos Christodoulides<\/b>, the resumption of talks<\/b> could be announced, according to ProtoThema.gr.<\/p>\nThe reason the process has stalled<\/h3>\n
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\u2019s Personal Envoy, Mar\u00eda \u00c1ngela Olgu\u00edn.<\/p>\n
\u201c\u201cThe only thing that is certain is that the effort is not stalling; the effort continues,\u201d Mr. Christodoulides said, noting that Ms. Olgu\u00edn will travel to Brussels on July 13, while diplomatic processes are ongoing and in conjunction with broader contacts concerning Turkey.<\/p>\n
Nikos Christodoulides spoke of a \u201cvery critical juncture,\u201d emphasizing that Nicosia is in constant communication both in Cyprus and in New York and Brussels.<\/p>\n
As he said, the goal remains the same: \u201cto achieve a positive outcome.\u201d 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.<\/p>\n
The Cypriot President\u2019s 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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
The Link Between EU-Turkey Relations and the Cyprus Issue
N. Christodoulides recalled that the current momentum, as he described it, stemmed from Nicosia\u2019s effort to link progress on Euro-Turkish relations with progress on the Cyprus issue.<\/p>\n
\u201c\u201cWe had said from the outset that our goal was to link potential developments in EU-Turkey relations\u2014since Turkey considers progress on these issues a strategic objective\u2014with the Cyprus issue,\u201d he noted.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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 \u201ctwo-state\u201d solution.<\/p>\n
Olgin\u2019s Role
The UN Secretary-General\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
The President of Cyprus insisted that \u201cprogress is being made\u201d 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.<\/p>\n
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\u2019s initiative and the EU\u2019s involvement to create conditions under which Ankara would face political consequences if it rejects the process.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
The new effort is therefore walking a fine line. On the one hand, there is the UN\u2019s 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 \u201ctwo-state\u201d rhetoric.<\/p>\n
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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
For now, Nicosia is keeping public expectations low but insists that the process has not stalled. The next milestone is Mar\u00eda \u00c1ngela Olgu\u00edn\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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