Ankara, Turkey. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Wednesday that there is a “window of opportunity” to find a solution to the Cyprus problem, citing initiatives by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
Talks in Ankara
Speaking at a joint press conference in Ankara, Mitsotakis said he and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan discussed the latest developments on Cyprus and that Greece’s position remains unchanged.
Mitsotakis said Guterres’ initiatives are creating a “window of opportunity” for the restart of a substantive dialogue from where it left off in 2017. He added that any process towards a solution “must always move within the bounds of the UN security council’s resolutions”.
Erdogan’s remarks on regional issues
Erdogan did not directly reference Cyprus in his statements, but said he and Mitsotakis had “openly discussed our positions on the Aegean and the eastern Mediterranean”.
He said the issues are complex but “not insurmountable under international law” and that “all that is needed is good faith”. Erdogan said he believes issues must be resolved on the basis of law and that relations will make progress towards a solution.
New York meeting and diplomatic reactions
The meeting between Erdogan and Mitsotakis took place a couple of hours before a meeting in New York between Guterres and Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman, their first since Erhurman was elected in October last year.
Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis, who travelled to Ankara with Mitsotakis, said earlier that Erhurman’s election “opens a new chapter of hope and expectations for the island’s reunification”.
EU comments and Turkey’s engagement
European Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos said last week that she welcomes Turkey’s “engagement” in talks regarding the Cyprus problem after a meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan in Ankara.
Kos had previously referred to an “opportunity” for Turkey to progress its process towards EU accession through Cyprus problem talks, adding that “any progress is connected to bilateral relations” as well as the new Cyprus settlement talks.
Fidan and Guterres held a telephone call on Wednesday morning to discuss the Cyprus problem. Kos also said there is a “big opportunity to continue” and that “there really is more that connects the EU and Turkey than what is dividing us”.
What do you think would be required for substantive Cyprus talks to restart from where they left off in 2017?
