Nicosia, Cyprus. Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos said on Thursday that Turkey’s position would be key to progress on the Cyprus problem in the coming weeks and months, following a cabinet meeting.
He said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres had received Turkey’s consent for a new enlarged meeting on the Cyprus problem, adding that Ankara could adopt a new position in line with what the secretary-general had described the previous day.
Turkey’s role
Kombos said that otherwise, it would be up to Turkey to explain its position to Guterres.
He said the government should maintain a positive outlook and continue to emphasise relations between the European Union and Turkey.
“We believe that there is the possibility of creating that critical mass which can give further impetus to the way in which the Turkish side can implement things,” he said.
Kombos added that there was no longer doubt that “the key to a positive outcome is and remains in Ankara”.
Meetings with EU commissioner
Asked about the Greek Cypriot side’s plans for a meeting with European Commission Cyprus problem representative Raffaele Fitto, who is due to meet President Nikos Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman on Friday, Kombos said there was no specific strategy for the meeting.
He said the government’s strategy had begun in March 2023 and was adjusted according to developments.
For the Greek Cypriot side, he said, it was necessary to create momentum around substantive proposals concerning the European Union and relations between Europe and Turkey.
Prospects for progress
Kombos said the government had proposals and the opportunity to present and discuss them, while acknowledging that no one could safely predict when they would be concluded.
He said that if the matter depended solely on the Greek Cypriot side, it would be completed as soon as possible due to its clear disposition and strong will.
However, he said time was needed for the necessary consultations, given the government’s positive attitude.
Asked about Guterres’ reference on Wednesday to methodology, Kombos said this was logical because the process was intended to achieve a substantive result.
