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Cyprus’ Foreign Ministry condemned Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan’s visit to the occupied north on Friday, calling it a violation of the Republic’s sovereignty just days before the island’s two leaders are due to meet with a U.N. envoy.
The ministry called the visit illegal and said it showed Ankara’s unwillingness to compromise at a time when diplomatic efforts have intensified. It accused Turkey of disregarding U.N. and European Union decisions and pointed to a recent European Commission report that found Turkey was moving further away from its obligations as a candidate for EU membership.
U.N. envoy María Ángela Holguín is due to meet President Nikos Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhürman at 11 a.m. Monday. She had asked both sides to respond by Friday to a proposal for four new crossing points. For people who cross the divide for work, family visits, or errands, the practical questions are where those crossings would open and when.
The ministry said the Republic remained ready to resume direct negotiations on a settlement under the framework set out in U.N. Security Council resolutions. It said a return to substantive talks still depended on Turkey’s position.
