Cyprus Links EU-Turkey Relations to Cyprus Problem Progress

President Nikos Christodoulides coordinated with European Union leadership to ensure that any progress in EU-Turkey relations is contingent upon substantive advancement regarding the Cyprus problem. Following meetings in Ankara between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and European Council President Antonio Costa, the EU communicated to Turkey that its interests within the bloc are directly linked to its constructive will on the Cyprus issue. Cyprus is calling for a shift from rhetorical support for UN initiatives to practical action, proposing an informal multilateral meeting next month involving the UN, Greece, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and both sides of the island.

Simultaneously, Christodoulides met with Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji in Nicosia to strengthen bilateral ties and discuss regional security. During the meeting, the Cypriot president pledged to use his influence within the EU to secure the start of negotiations for a comprehensive EU-Lebanon strategic agreement. He noted that he has urged Ursula von der Leyen to expedite the process, citing previous successful initiatives Cyprus led for Jordan and Egypt. Government spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis described the current diplomatic relationship between Cyprus and Lebanon as the closest the two nations have ever experienced.