Christodoulides: If Progress Is Achieved on the Cyprus Issue, We Can Support Turkey’s EU Path

His remarks came in response to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s recent statement that EU accession remains Turkey’s “strategic priority,” which Christodoulides described as positive “provided it is reflected in practice.”

According to Cyprus Mail, Christodoulides said that if Erdoğan’s statements are not limited to rhetoric, “we are ready to lead in this direction,” adding that South Cyprus will uphold the policy adopted by all 27 EU member states during its EU presidency.

Christodoulides also said he intends to invite President Erdoğan to the informal European Council meeting scheduled for next April, and Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan to the informal EU Foreign Affairs Council (Gymnich) meeting.

Fileleftheros and other newspapers reported that Christodoulides commented on Erdoğan’s assertion that Turkey’s EU accession remains a strategic goal. Responding to a question during a joint statement with European Parliament President Roberta Metsola on Monday evening, he said that if Erdoğan’s words are “not mere statements,” then South Cyprus is prepared “to move towards a course that links concrete progress in the Cyprus issue with Turkey’s obligations derived from South Cyprus.”

On the recent developments surrounding the Cyprus issue, Christodoulides said they are fully prepared for the 11 December meeting with the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy, María Angela Holguín, noting that he will also meet her on Saturday. He stressed that he will attend the 11 December trilateral with Holguín and Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhürman with a single objective: “to create the conditions for the resumption of negotiations.”

Christodoulides reiterated that he is ready to take part in an expanded meeting before the end of the year if it would help restart substantive talks.

What Erdoğan Said

Following Monday’s cabinet meeting, President Erdoğan reiterated that Turkey’s goal of full EU membership “remains our strategic priority.” Despite obstacles, he said, “we have not abandoned our objective of full membership.”