The NATO summit taking place in Ankara does not include the Cyprus problem on its agenda, but it could generate momentum that will affect further efforts to restart talks. For Turkey, the NATO summit highlights its role within the alliance, while at the same time it is keen to underline the importance of its relations with the European Union.
Nicosia has long had its eye on Ankara and is waiting to see moves that will help the UN Secretary-General in his effort to restart talks on the Cyprus problem. It believes that EU-Turkey relations, and Turkey’s wish to move closer to Europe, provide a good backdrop that could benefit the Cyprus problem.
“We are also part of Europe…”
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, in an interview with the New York Times, was fairly revealing about how his country now views its relations with the EU. According to Fidan, Turkey and Europe must regard each other as vital to their collective security.
“We are also part of Europe,” the Turkish foreign minister said, arguing that Turkey and Europe must unite within European geography to shape their security platform.
On Wednesday, European Council President António Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will meet Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Ankara, and the Cyprus problem will be one of the main issues discussed among the three.
What will be discussed in Ankara
The European Council said in a statement that the meeting will focus on bilateral EU-Turkey relations. President Costa will travel to Ankara on July 7 and 8, where tonight he will attend the NATO summit leaders’ dinner, while on Wednesday, Costa and von der Leyen will meet the President of Turkey, the statement notes.
The three leaders are expected to exchange views on regional developments, and in particular on the UN Secretary-General’s ongoing diplomatic efforts to resolve the Cyprus problem, it adds.
Bilateral EU-Turkey relations are expected to be at the centre of the talks, with the current geopolitical situation making it necessary to strengthen dialogue and cooperation, based on common interests and pragmatic steps, the statement says.
In addition, the two sides will review progress on implementing the joint communication from the European Commission and the High Representative, adopted in November 2023, concerning the course of EU-Turkey political, economic and trade relations.
Nicosia keeps expectations low
Despite seeing President Christodoulides’s position on the Cyprus problem and EU-Turkey relations being vindicated, Nicosia is choosing to keep its expectations low. Government Spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis put it this way: “I don’t know if these meetings will be decisive, but they will be indicative.”
Letymbiotis noted that the statements made by Erdoğan and Fidan appear to show a renewed Turkish interest in closer relations with the European Union. He said there is also a stated EU position that the progress Turkey is seeking is possible, and that the path to it runs through the Cyprus problem too, with Letymbiotis stressing that Turkey’s obligations are not only Cyprus-related.
Nicosia is also awaiting Maria Ángela Holguín’s contacts in Brussels next week. Her meetings with Costa and von der Leyen are considered significant. In his remarks, Letymbiotis recalled Holguín’s recent article, in which she referred to the role the EU could play in the UN Secretary-General’s efforts.
The Cyprus government also believes that Turkey’s consent is still needed for the informal multilateral conference to be convened. The Greek Cypriot side continues to maintain that whenever the multilateral conference takes place, it must result in the resumption of negotiations “always within the agreed framework of a bizonal, bicommunal federation,” according to the government spokesperson.
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