Cyprus negotiations not frozen: Critical statements from Christodoulides

President of Cyprus Nikos Christodoulides made important statements regarding the process, stating that efforts to resume negotiations on the Cyprus issue have not been frozen. The postponement of UN Special Representative Maria Angela Holguin's contacts until after the NATO summit to be held in Ankara next week had raised concerns in some circles that the process was stalling. Christodoulides however, emphasized that efforts are ongoing and that all processes are operational with the aim of holding an expanded meeting. It was stated that Holguin is planned to meet with President of the European Council Antonio Costa in Brüksel on 13 Temmuz. Christodoulides added that they support the great effort undertaken by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and expect positive responses from all parties.

The President stated that his government's efforts were effective in the progress achieved in the process so far, arguing that they took the initiative in this process. He noted that the European Union has taken a more active role in the Cyprus issue in recent years and that Holguin's appointment in 2024 was one of the steps in this direction. He also emphasized that linking the development of relations between Europe and Turkey with progress in the Cyprus issue is a strategic goal. He added that Turkey sees this issue as a strategic priority and that progress has been made in this direction. Christodoulides stated that the ultimate goal is nothing but the resumption of negotiations and that they are hopeful in this regard.

The NATO summit to be held in Ankara next week is of great importance in the context of addressing security guarantees following the resolution of the Cyprus issue. Providing post-solution security guarantees in Cyprus through a NATO-based structure is on the agenda. It is suggested that these guarantees could materialize through the deployment of NATO troops from Turkey, Yunanistan, Fransa, Birleşik Krallık and America Birleşik Devletleri to the island, and the new Republic of Cyprus becoming a member of NATO. Turkey Cumhurbaşkanı Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will host the summit, and the prime ministers of Yunanistan and Birleşik Krallık, the island's other two guarantee powers, Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Sir Keir Starmer, are also expected to attend. It was reported that President of the European Council Antonio Costa and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen will also be present at the summit.

Meanwhile, claims that Holguin would meet with NATO officials at NATO's headquarters in Brüksel and that the issue of NATO-based security guarantees for post-solution Cyprus would be discussed were rejected by a NATO official. The official in question stated that the issue has not yet been discussed at NATO and that no meeting is planned with the representative. This statement indicates that uncertainties continue regarding how the security architecture will be formed in the Cyprus issue. On the Birleşik Krallık side, Prime Minister Starmer is expected to resign within ten days after the summit and to be replaced by Manchester's departing mayor Andy Burnham. However, this change is not expected to affect the Birleşik Krallık's stance on the Cyprus issue.

The question of whether the process has frozen came to the agenda with the postponement of Holguin's meeting with Costa, while she is expected to return to the island at the end of this month. Holguin's return to the island has now shifted to the second half of next month, resulting in the postponement of the planned expanded meeting. This meeting, which is planned to encompass the island's two sides, the three guarantee powers namely Yunanistan, Turkey and Birleşik Krallık, and the UN, appears likely to take place at the end of Ağustos or at a later date. Christodoulides stated that despite all these developments, his government continues its contacts at the Cyprus, New York and EU levels uninterruptedly. He added that the process is at a critical juncture and that their sole goal is to achieve a positive result, emphasizing that efforts for the resumption of negotiations continue.