UN and EU push for Cyprus Problem breakthrough

The United Nations and the European Union are making efforts to break the current deadlock in the Cyprus problem, recognizing the significant role of Turkey. Diplomatic sources have revealed that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan appears open to resuming the negotiating process.

According to these sources, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has already engaged in high-level discussions with Turkish officials and is planning further contacts. The goal is to announce the appointment of a UN special envoy to Cyprus in September, following a joint meeting at the UN General Assembly in New York with Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar. Additionally, a visit from a senior UN official to Cyprus is expected, possibly in July.

The Cyprus issue was a prominent topic during bilateral meetings between President Erdogan and European Council President Charles Michel, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis at the NATO Summit in Vilnius.

Sources indicate that President Erdogan seeks progress in EU-Turkey relations, particularly on economic matters, given the state of his country's economy. However, he has been informed that the course of EU-Turkey relations is closely linked to the resolution of the Cyprus problem and its progress.

The sources reveal that, based on discussions held, Erdogan appears receptive to resuming talks. President Christodoulides has already been briefed on the meetings with Erdogan in Vilnius and will receive more detailed updates during private meetings in Brussels, where he will be attending the EU-Community of Latin American and Caribbean States Summit on Monday and Tuesday.

Furthermore, the diplomatic sources highlight the unexpected issuance of a Press Statement by the UN Security Council on the Cyprus problem, addressing the form of the solution and the appointment of an envoy. This development underscores the ongoing efforts being made to address the Cyprus problem.