EU-Türkiye relations hinge on Cyprus issue progress: Greek PM

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis underscores the interdependence of EU-Türkiye relations and progress on the Cyprus issue, highlighting the need for alignment with previous European Council decisions and U.N. resolutions

On Wednesday, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis stated that the development of relations between the European Union and Türkiye is closely linked to progress in resolving the Cyprus issue.

Speaking ahead of a special meeting of the European Council in Brussels where EU-Türkiye relations would be discussed, Mitsotakis expressed satisfaction with the agreed conclusions.

He underscored that any progress in EU-Türkiye relations must align with the decisions previously made by the European Council.

Mitsotakis welcomed the explicit acknowledgment linking the improvement of EU-Türkiye relations with advancements in the Cyprus problem. He reiterated the importance of adhering to the framework provided by the U.N. Security Council’s resolutions for resolving the Cyprus issue.

Mitsotakis also expressed hope that the ongoing efforts, facilitated by the new U.N. envoy, will lead to tangible progress.

The Cyprus conflict, a long-standing dispute between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, has persisted for decades despite various diplomatic endeavors by the U.N. Beginning in the early 1960s, ethnic attacks compelled Turkish Cypriots to seek refuge in enclaves for their safety.

The situation escalated in 1974 when a Greek Cypriot coup aimed at annexing the island to Greece prompted Türkiye’s military intervention as a guarantor power to protect Turkish Cypriots. Consequently, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) was established in 1983.

Efforts to achieve peace have seen intermittent progress, including a failed 2017 initiative in Switzerland mediated by Türkiye, Greece, and the U.K. as guarantor countries.

Source: Newsroom

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