Newsroom / CNA
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan’s initial intervention during the informal summit of the Foreign Ministers of the EU in Brussels, on Thursday, was made without reference to the Cyprus problem, according to diplomatic sources. However, after ministers from other member states as well as Cypriot Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos, referred to the issue in their own interventions, Fidan responded by raising the position that there are two entities of equal sovereignty in Cyprus during his second intervention.
Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos then responded by outlining the Greek Cypriot position on these issues. However, according to the same sources, the discussion was not tense. Cypriot sources believe that EU member states sent the necessary messages on how Cyprus influences EU - Turkey relations.
Most of the member states that spoke after Fidan's initial statements referred to the framework that has been agreed at the EU level on relations with Turkey and on the Cyprus problem, as recorded in European Council conclusions and Security Council resolutions, pointing to progress on Cyprus as a necessary element which affects the progress of EU - Turkey relations.
Responding to the statements made by the Foreign Ministers of the 27 Member States, Fidan reiterated Turkey’s position concerning the isolation of the Turkish Cypriot community, and added that in Cyprus there are two entities of equal sovereignty, and that relations between them should not hinder the progress of the EU - Turkey relations.
This statement brought a further response from Kombos, who pointed out the position of the Greek Cypriot side regarding the agreed framework for a settlement of the Cyprus problem, as well as the need to link progress on the Cyprus problem with EU - Turkey relations.
Diplomatic sources believe that the discussion was an opportunity for Turkey to listen to the EU's point of view, and that it is now up to the country to decide how to proceed.
However, as to the next steps in EU - Turkey relations and the promotion of a conditional positive agenda, the same sources pointed out that no decisions were expected during the Foreign Ministers' meeting as it was an informal session. They added that there are currently discussions at the technical level on updating the Customs Union, visa liberalisation and the role of the EIB, but political decisions will have to be taken at the political level.
