We need EU and UN help for substantive dialogue which will have a conclusion, FM says

Foreign Affairs Minister Constantinos Kombos has spoken about Nicosia's aim for the resumption of Cyprus talks where they ended in the Crans - Montana Conference in 2017 and of the need for the EU to have a constant role which will include both a technocratic and a political presence but would not substitute the United Nations role.

Cyprus has been divided since the 1974 Turkish invasion. The latest round of talks, under the UN aegis, to reunite the island under a federal roof, took place in the summer of 2017 in the Swiss resort of Crans Montana but failed to yield results.

Kombos, who had a meeting with the House Committee on Foreign and European Affairs on 28 March, also referred to the support offered from Greece to the Turkish candidacy at the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), noting that Cyprus had been informed in advance about it and reiterating that Nicosia cannot support the Turkish candidacy.

Replying to questions posed by MPs the Foreign Affairs Minister said that in the recent European Council and during his own meetings in Brussels the Republic of Cyprus' position over Russia's illegal invasion in Ukraine and the need for EU unity on the matter was confirmed.

We are fully in line with EU decisions and actions, including sanctions and there has been no discussion on any type of exception or deviation from what the EU has decided, he said.

He referred to a heavy financial and political cost the Republic of Cyprus has had to bear because of sanctions against Moscow, but stressed that "our position could not have been different."

Kombos further stressed the importance of concentrating on resolving the dispute and of promoting a peaceful settlement rather than concentrating only on sanctions, adding that the Republic of Cyprus supports Zelensky's plan "as the correct basis in order for the discussion to go ahead." Nicosia, he pointed out, has also raised the matter of third countries undermining sanctions.

Referring to the matter of a European army, the Foreign Affairs Minister said that Nicosia welcomes the need to enhance EU capabilities to respond to crises of a strategic nature and that this is a must, but added that a European army should not be looked at as a body which would be in competition with NATO.

We support EU efforts for autonomy but at the same time a serious relationship with existing structures should be maintained on the basis of specific principles of reciprocity and autonomy in decision making, as well as the principle of inclusion, he noted. Kombos said that Cyprus does not accept its exclusion from such formations because of the Turkish stance on the matter.

The Foreign Affairs Minister reiterated the Greek Cypriot side's willingness for a resumption of talks from the point where they ended in Crans-Montana, stressing that given that we are interested in reunifying our country, we ought to have taken an initiative in this direction, and this is what happened.

Our side, he stressed, tries through undertaking initiatives to help the resumption of talks and this also has to do with our credibility.

"Our interlocutors are under no doubt that we seek a resumption of dialogue as soon as possible where it had stopped in Crans - Montana, that we have positions and that we are inviting the other side to sit with us for substantive talks," he pointed out.

He further stressed that Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides was clear during his meetings that the role of the UN will not be substituted and that we understand that the organisation has serious difficulties to resume the talks for a certain period. Therefore, he added, "we believe that the EU has the capability and the tools, to act as a catalyst and help in the resumption (of talks)."

Kombos said that the EU could use the Greco-Turkish matters as a motive for Ankara to change its position and stance, adding that this may be combined with the positive circumstance of relations between Greece and Turkey being calm and the upgrade of the role of Turkey due to the war in Ukraine.

He spoke of a combination of factors which would allow a more fruitful and favourable climate and said he was cautiously optimistic, adding that it is clear that there is no alternative.

The Foreign Affairs Minister also said that Nicosia's proposal has been met with interest and a positive approach and that right now we are expecting the next stage and the next steps, adding that the Turkish elections and their outcome will be a milestone, and a development which should not be ignored.

Referring to the likelihood of sanctions against Ankara he said that it is a tool which on the table in case of moves to the opposite direction such as an extension of works in Turkish occupied Varosha or new drills in Cyprus' Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). He added that our side is ready and prepared for such developments.

Referring to the proposal for a more active EU engagement in the Cyprus problem, he explained that we want an EU political presence which will be such so that it would also influence the resumption of talks and it would also continue to do so not just as a catalyst.

Kombos pointed out that previously the EU was always present at a technocratic level and that it would be there at a political level "at the end of the road when conferences would take place." He spoke of something missing and Cyprus' aim that the EU role should be constant both at technocratic and political level.

Speaking about the efforts to upgrade the Turkish occupied areas of Cyprus he said that the government is taking measures to counteract such efforts and is in contact with countries involved and the EU and when necessary strong representations are made.

Replying to questions about the resumption of reunification talks, the Foreign Affairs Minister said that we will begin where we stopped, adding that therefore this would include the UN framework for bizonal, bicommunal federation with political equality and the participation of Turkish Cypriots. He said that the National Council's decisions are binding for the government and that it will not discuss an alternative type of solution.

Kombos further announced that Nicosia will host on March 31, a trilateral meeting with Israel and Greece which will focus on energy matters, Libya, the Middle Eastern question, Turkey and Ukraine.

He also referred to excellent relations between Cyprus and Greece which may improve in the context of an established consultation at ministerial level.

He also spoke of an excellent relationship with the US and the partial lifting of an arms embargo as well as the successful operation of the training centre Cyclops which has so far trained 800 people.

The US arms embargo to Cyprus was in place since 1987. In 2020 it was announced that the US would partially lift the embargo, on conditions, with the decision being reviewed annually. US announced the complete lift of decade-old arms embargo on Cyprus in September 2022.

(Source: CNA)