Cyprus government official discusses prospects for the Cyprus issue and EU-Turkey relations

Deputy Government Spokesperson Yiannis Antoniou stated that while there is potential for progress on the Cyprus issue, the government remains cautious. He highlighted that Nicosia’s optimism is primarily linked to the efforts of UN Secretary-General António Guterres before his term ends. Antoniou noted that there has been no substantial change in the Turkish position thus far. He emphasized that the Republic of Cyprus intends to leverage Turkey’s interest in upgrading its EU relations to push for progress in negotiations. The government maintains that any advancement in EU-Turkey ties is contingent upon progress in the Cyprus issue, citing legal and diplomatic support from the European Council. Furthermore, Antoniou declared that any solution involving the continued presence of Turkish military forces is unacceptable to the Republic of Cyprus. He argued that an EU member state cannot operate under outdated security guarantees.