European Council President Costa tells UN chief: EU will not support a two-state solution for Cyprus

The EU will not accept a two-state solution in Cyprus, European Council President Antonio Costa told UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres during a telephone conversation, about which he then briefed Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Christodoulides.

Sources said Christodoulides held telephone calls with both European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Costa, following a meeting of the National Council in Geneva on Monday morning.

Ursula von der Leyen is “very interested” in the outcome of the Geneva informal meeting on Cyprus, the Cyprus News Agency has reported.

Referring to his phone call with Guterres, Costa said he assured that the EU is fully committed to a comprehensive settlement of the problem, in the UN framework for a bizonal, bicommunal federation with political equality, in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions, the principles on which the EU is based and the acquis communautaire.

Türkiye must act in line with UN decisions, Costa is said to have told the UN chief.

Costa added that a stable and secure environment in the eastern Mediterranean constituted part of the EU’s strategic interest, as was a stable, independent, peaceful and fully functional Cyprus, as an EU member.

Costa pointed out that the EU must be present and be in a position to offer its support at all stages of the Cyprus process under the UN.