Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said the prospect of Cyprus reunification “has closed” ahead of his visit to Greece on Friday.
In an interview with Greek newspaper Ta Nea, Fidan said there is currently no negotiation process due to “deep disagreements” about what should be negotiated, though he suggested different solution paths remain possible.
“There are two separate peoples and two separate states on the island”, Fidan said, advocating for a cooperative neighbourly relationship between the communities.
The minister highlighted a “positive momentum” in Greek-Turkish relations, citing leadership commitment from both countries. He acknowledged ongoing disagreements but emphasised the importance of maintaining open communication channels.
Regarding environmental cooperation in the South Aegean, Fidan said Turkey was open to collaboration on marine parks but opposed “exploiting universal values like the environment for political purposes”.
He indicated that if current Greek-Turkish dialogue fails to yield comprehensive solutions, Turkey would pursue international jurisdiction through a “holistic approach.”
The comments come ahead of Fidan’s meeting with Greek counterpart George Gerapetritis on Thursday, amid efforts to improve bilateral relations between the historical rivals.
The United Nations has previously noted the absence of common ground between the sides regarding Cyprus, with an upcoming informal meeting expected to only exchange views on future possibilities.
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