Starting from this week and for a 20-day period, Maria Angela Holguín Cuéllar will have a series of important meetings related to the ongoing developments in Cyprus and efforts to revive talks between the two sides.
Holguín’s tour to three European capitals before arriving in Nicosia in May will indicate whether the moves of the Cypriot government in the EU space will lead to a change in approach from Turkey.
Nicosia chose not to respond to the Turkish reaction to the conclusions of the European Council, which is not irrelevant to what will follow in the coming weeks.
It awaits the results of a series of meetings to be held both within the European Union and in Cyprus, as well as in Turkey.
Meetings from which it hopes that the “European signals,” meaning the disposition expressed by the EU through its conclusions for improvement in EU-Turkey relations, will find a response in efforts in Cyprus.
For Nicosia, as indicated by government circles, Holguín’s tour starting this week from Berlin does not deviate from this framework, meaning that Cyprus plays a role in EU-Turkey relations, and EU-Turkey relations positively influence efforts to revive talks.
The personal envoy of the UN Secretary-General will be in Berlin at the end of the week, 25th and 26th of April, for contacts with the German government. From Berlin, she will travel to Paris, where next Friday she will have meetings with the French government. While on 29-30 April, she will be in Brussels.
The role that the European Union can play overall, and Germany-France specifically, will be at the heart of Holguín’s discussions in the three capitals.
In Cyprus, the personal envoy of the UN Secretary-General is expected on 7th May and is scheduled to stay on the island until the 14th of the same month.
During the week she will be in Cyprus, Holguín, the Greek Cypriot side hopes, will see much better progress than before.
What Nicosia expects is for the UN envoy to clarify further how the international organisation intends to resolve the deadlock and bring the two parties back to the negotiating table.
The Cypriot government has placed particular emphasis on the German factor to persuade Turkey to change its stance on Cyprus.
Unlike the past where there was in Nicosia a reservation, even suspicion, regarding the German attitude towards Turkey and by extension Cyprus, at this stage, the Cypriot side appears to trust Berlin.
President Christodoulides, speaking to the German Editors’ Network, mentioned that he has a close relationship with the German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, to whom he expresses gratitude for his support in Cyprus’ efforts to restart negotiations with Turkey.
“Now we are sending a positive message to Turkey, which can lead to specific steps in the evolution of EU-Turkey relations, provided Ankara resolves the Cyprus issue,” he says, adding that he is particularly pleased with his open and sincere relationship and discussion with the German Chancellor, who contributed to Turkey accepting the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy for Cyprus, aiming to restart talks.
When asked if he believes that Cyprus is being heard on the issue of relations with Turkey, given that it is a small country and other EU countries desire to tighten relations with Turkey, Christodoulides responded that Cyprus does not clearly express its position only regarding the Cyprus issue but also plays a significant role in matters concerning Lebanon or migration and can offer solutions to many challenges that the EU faces today.
