Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides attends a European Union leaders summit, in Brussels, on March 6. [Stephanie Lecocq/Reuters]
Cyprus president Nicos Christodoulides proposes a step by step plan that could lower tensions with Turkey and benefit both, in an interview with Politico.
Christodoulides suggests that Turkey could let Cyprus into the Partnership for Peace (PfP) program, which is seen as a first step toward NATO membership, in return, for Cyprus gradually lifting barriers to closer EU-Turkey cooperation.
“We can envision a step-by-step approach with steps by Turkey on Cyprus joining the PfP and in parallel positive steps on EU-Turkey relations, always in conjunction with the resumption of talks for a solution to the Cyprus problem within the agreed framework,” Christodoulides said in an interview at the presidential palace last week. He added that he has already discussed this proposal with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte and with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
Christodoulides called Cyprus joining the NATO alliance a “natural development” but something that has not happened because of “political conditions.” NATO members can veto a country’s bid to join the alliance and Turkey refuses to allow Cyprus in.
Cyprus, together Greece, is blocking Turkey’s bid to take part in joint procurements financed by the EU’s €150 billion Security Action for Europe scheme.
However, Christodoulides noted that it is “Turkey that has excluded itself” from SAFE because it has not reached a security agreement with the EU. “There are specific conditions that should be met for SAFE participation, as in the EU accession process; it is not à la carte.”