European Council President Antonio Costa visited South Cyprus for a meeting with Greek Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides. During the meeting, Christodoulides stressed the necessity of EU involvement in the Cyprus issue. However, Costa indicated that the process should be led by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
According to a report in Alithia, Christodoulides reiterated that only the EU possesses the instruments to guide the parties towards a mutually beneficial outcome. He also reminded that Rafaele Fitto was appointed as the EU’s special representative for Cyprus. Notably, Costa drew attention to the limitations of the EU’s contributions in providing technical support for this process.
Costa stated, “We support Cyprus’s position and also endorse the efforts for a solution through UN-led dialogue,” affirming respect for the approach taken towards the discussions and the issues at hand. However, he emphasized that the EU does not assume a position that could replace the UN-led process.
It has been noted that Christodoulides’s insistence on a more active EU role has become one of the main agenda items of the Greek Presidential Palace. In this context, his statements frequently appear in both summit meetings and public discourse.
In conclusion, Costa’s remarks indicate that the responsibility for the Cyprus negotiation process lies with the UN, while the EU will aim to assume a supportive role in this process.
Source: www.diyaloggazetesi.com
