**Nicosia, Cyprus** - As Cyprus assumes the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union, it finds itself at a pivotal juncture, strategically leveraging its newfound prominence to recalibrate its diplomatic standing and foster regional stability. The island nation is extending an olive branch to Ankara, urging Turkey to capitalise on this six-month term as a catalyst for mending bilateral ties and fulfilling outstanding obligations pertaining to the Cyprus issue. President Nikos Christodoulides has proactively extended an invitation to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for an informal summit in Cyprus, slated for April, bringing together EU member states and regional neighbours.
This overture comes amidst a complex geopolitical landscape in the Eastern Mediterranean. Cyprus has been actively cultivating robust trilateral partnerships, notably with Israel and Greece, as evidenced by a recent summit in Jerusalem, and is poised to convene another with Greece and Egypt in Cairo. These alliances are explicitly designed to champion peace, stability, and economic development across the strategically vital region. The potential inclusion of the European Commission in these trilateral dialogues, perhaps as an observer, signals a broader EU commitment to engaging with these burgeoning cooperative frameworks.
The timing of Cyprus's EU Council presidency is particularly significant, offering a unique platform to amplify its diplomatic influence. Constantinos Kombos, the Cypriot Foreign Minister, has articulated a clear vision, stating, "Turkey is not excluded from the Republic of Cyprus, but Turkey must choose whether to insist on its own self-exclusion. We seek for Turkey to seize the opportunity, in connection with its Cyprus-related obligations." This sentiment underscores a desire for constructive engagement, aiming to facilitate Turkey's progress within its EU accession trajectory by addressing the long-standing Cyprus-related impediments.
However, the path forward is not without its complexities. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has acknowledged the presidency as a potential avenue for Turkey but has also voiced considerable frustration, lamenting what he perceives as consistent obstructionism from the "Greek Cypriot administration" on the international stage. Fidan has issued a stern warning against any regional agreements conceived during Cyprus's tenure that might deliberately circumvent Turkey's interests, deeming such arrangements "illegitimate." He stated, "The European Union has been unable to resist the arrogance of the Greek Cypriot administration in southern Cyprus for years. It has been dragged along by this arrogance, but at this point in the world, this arrogance is no longer limited to the Greek Cypriot administration. It would mean dealing a major blow to the main pillars of the EU’s security architecture."
President Christodoulides has reiterated his readiness for a direct dialogue with President Erdogan, expressing a firm commitment to resolving the Cyprus issue through negotiation and a mutually agreed-upon settlement. Concurrently, Marilena Rauna, Cyprus's Deputy Minister for European Affairs, has emphasised the strategic importance of the EU presidency, viewing it as an instrumental opportunity to bolster the nation's diplomatic footprint and contribute significantly to the European Union's overarching strategic autonomy. During its presidency, Cyprus will be at the helm of critical negotiations on key EU dossiers, including the upcoming Multiannual Financial Framework and matters of defence and security, while also championing enhanced cooperation within the Eastern Mediterranean, such as the implementation of projects under the Mediterranean Pact. The upcoming informal meeting of EU foreign ministers in Limassol in the first half of the year will undoubtedly serve as an early test case for these diplomatic initiatives.