The European Union is ready to participate in upcoming talks on the reunification of Cyprus, a European Fee spokesperson has stated, successfully rejecting calls from the Turkish-occupied north for Europe to be excluded.
“We’re able to play an lively position on this course of, with all means and instruments at our disposal,” the EU official instructed Euractiv.
The remarks are available response to feedback by Turkish Cypriot chief Tufan Erhürman, who stated earlier this week that Europe ought to stay absent from the talks.
“The widespread place of each Türkiye and ourselves is that the European Union can’t be one of many events on the negotiating desk,” Erhürman stated, arguing that the EU’s involvement may compromise the neutrality of the method, provided that Cyprus is an EU member state.
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Cyprus joined the EU in 2004, although the island has remained divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded following an Athens-backed coup that overthrew the Cypriot president. Turkish forces have remained on the island ever since, and the so-called “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus” is recognised solely by Ankara.
Reunification talks have been stalled for years. Nevertheless, María Ángela Holguín, the United Nations particular envoy on Cyprus, indicated this week {that a} assembly could possibly be organised in July or August.
The EU official stated the European Fee’s place on the Cyprus concern is long-standing, clear and unchanged. “The EU is firmly dedicated to the reunification of Cyprus on the premise of a bizonal and bicommunal federation, in keeping with related UN Safety Council resolutions and the ideas, values and laws of the EU,” the official stated.
In contrast, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan continues to advocate a two-state resolution and the formal partition of Cyprus.
