Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides said Friday that Turkey cannot move forward in its long-stalled European Union membership bid unless it abandons its call for a two-state settlement on the divided island of Cyprus, Reuters reported.
Christodoulides spoke in Berlin after meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and said Turkey’s position on Cyprus was a direct obstacle to its EU ambitions.
He also urged the bloc to deny Ankara access to the European Union’s Security Action for Europe defense fund (SAFE) because Turkey does not have a defense or security agreement with the EU.
Cyprus will assume the EU’s rotating presidency in January and is seeking fresh movement on the island’s frozen reunification talks.
Merz said Germany was ready to support new diplomatic efforts and confirmed that Christodoulides presented a detailed proposal that Berlin would study.
Cyprus has been split since 1974 when Turkey sent troops to the island following a short-lived coup backed by Greece.
The internationally recognized Republic of Cyprus controls the Greek Cypriot south, while a self-declared Turkish Cypriot administration runs the north with political and military support from Ankara.
Turkey is the only country that recognizes the northern administration.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said Thursday that a two state arrangement was the most realistic outcome for Cyprus, a position firmly rejected by Greek Cypriots, who insist on a federal settlement under United Nations resolutions.
Christodoulides said the European Union and the international community must stay aligned with UN Security Council resolutions that call for reunification under a bi-communal and bi-zonal federation.
“If Mr Erdogan insists on two states in Cyprus, certainly Turkey cannot get close to the EU,” he was quoted as saying.