Ankara, Turkey. Turkey’s foreign minister Oncu Keceli called on newly appointed European Commission Cyprus envoy Raffaele Fitto to work towards changing what he described as the European Union’s partisan stance on Cyprus.
Keceli said Ankara believes a settlement can only be reached through negotiations between two sovereign and equal states based on realities on the island.
Turkey’s position
Keceli said Turkey regarded the European Commission’s decision to appoint a new Cyprus envoy as an internal EU matter, as it had done with similar appointments in the past.
He said the EU had lost its impartiality on Cyprus by admitting the Greek Cypriot side as a member despite its rejection of the United Nations’ comprehensive settlement plan in 2004.
Keceli added that EU institutions, particularly the European Parliament, had continued to take what he called an entirely biased approach to the Cyprus issue. The European Parliament last week adopted a resolution condemning Turkey for sexual violence committed on the island in 1974.
Fitto’s previous remarks
Fitto’s appointment is unlikely to bring a change in EU policy on Cyprus, given that he has not departed from that position in his public remarks as a member of the European Commission.
In November, Fitto told the European Parliament that the EU recognised only the Republic of Cyprus as a subject of international law and that reunification of the island was the only solution.
Although Fitto belongs to the European Conservatives and Reformists group, the same European grouping as Elam, he praised Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman, saying a change in leadership in the Turkish Cypriot community could open a new opportunity to move forward.
Commission role
In his November address, delivered in his capacity as European cohesion commissioner, Fitto said the Commission was continuing work to create conditions for future reunification on the ground.
He said the Commission aimed to promote engagement, cooperation and inclusion between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities. Fitto will retain his role as European cohesion commissioner alongside his appointment as Cyprus envoy.
