“We cannot change geography; Turkey will always be a neighboring state to the Republic of Cyprus. Mr. Erdoğan will, of course, be welcome at this summit to discuss developments in the region,” Christodoulides told reporters in Nicosia, as reported by Reuters.
“Cyprus will invite Turkey, its long-standing adversary, to a summit during its European Union presidency next year, despite Ankara’s 1974 invasion and its support for a breakaway state on the divided island,” Reuters commented.
Christodoulides had previously made similar remarks on a British podcast aired on Monday, responding to a question by stating that the summit is scheduled for April 2026.
Hosting the Turkish president in Cyprus may prove challenging due to the diplomatic tightrope stemming from past conflicts, the history of Cyprus’s occupation, and logistical issues.
No Issue from the Republic of Cyprus Regarding Erdoğan
According to Cyprus’s sigmalive, which provided additional details, Christodoulides reiterated the new doctrine of limited EU involvement. “I am here to engage with all the Secretariat officials working tirelessly to ensure a successful presidency. This presidency, among other goals, aims to strengthen the EU’s relations with the region.”
“Yes, let me state publicly again: we are not satisfied with the EU’s level of engagement; much more can clearly be done. As the EU member state in the region, we take on this responsibility within the framework of our presidency, and our plans include holding an informal Council with the participation of regional leaders. When asked about Mr. Erdoğan, I said, of course, there is no issue from the Republic of Cyprus’s perspective.”
“As the member state in the region—and as you know, you cannot change geography—Turkey will always be a neighboring state to the Republic of Cyprus. We want Turkey to be closer to the European Union, and it is entirely up to Turkey to fulfill its obligations, both Cyprus-related and otherwise.”
“In this context, Mr. Erdoğan will naturally be welcome at this Council to discuss regional developments, as part of an initiative by the Republic of Cyprus.”
Source: pagenews.gr