President to call Guterres over stronger EU role in Cyprus talks (Updated)

President Nikos Christodoulides is set to have a call with UN secretary general Antonio Guterres on Wednesday, to discuss developments over a more active role for the EU in resolving the Cyprus problem.

According to the Cyprus News Agency, Christodoulides requested the call which will take place later in the day.

Meanwhile, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said he could return to the negotiating table if the sovereign rights of the north are recognised.

Speaking to reporters in Turkey after his Azerbaijan trip, Erdogan described Cyprus’ current government as one keeping a more peaceful climate compared to previous administrations.

“If they keep this peaceful atmosphere and say yes to the protection of sovereign equality rights for the TRNC without any issues, we will say why not to this.”

On Wednesday, Christodoulides was in Vienna where he held talks with Chancellor Karl Nehammer. The two discussed the president’s proposal of a stronger EU involvement over the Cyprus issue.

Diplomatic sources explained that Christodoulides will subsequently brief the UN at the highest level both in person and over the phone, over his visit to the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Tuesday.

The president was going to update Guterres on the results of his talks promoting his idea how the EU could be more actively involved, with the broader aim of restarting the negotiation process, under the auspices of the UN.

Erdogan also commented on his visit to the north earlier in the week saying the visit underlined “the strong bonds between Turkey and the TRNC”.

The president added he discussed with Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar the agenda over the Cyprus problem. “Despite the unfair and illegal embargoes that have been imposed, we discussed our mutual efforts to offer state services to our Turkish Cypriot brothers and Cypriots.

“We explored steps we took and will take to make the TRNC into a pillar of attraction in the Eastern Mediterranean.”

Asked to comment on relations between Greece and Turkey, Erdogan said “we are two neighbouring countries. Seeing as there are no messages from one side to the other from time to time, the goal is to reduce our enmity instead of increase it.”