The European Union is working towards ensuring that Turkey accepts the resumption of negotiations to solve the Cyprus problem from where they left off in Crans Montana in 2017, with the aim of a federal solution, President Nikos Christodoulides said on Friday.

Speaking at the raising of the European flag outside Nicosia’s old city hall to mark Europe Day, he said the EU “has the tools which can lead us to a mutually beneficial state of affairs, taking into account Turkey’s strong interest in coming closer to the EU.

“I am glad to see this interest on the part of the EU,” he said, pointing out as an example the letter sent by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa to United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres regarding Cyprus during the most recent enlarged meeting on the Cyprus problem in March.

He described that letter as “a landmark document which records the positions of the EU and its 27 member states”, adding that “beyond that, there are other actions which are not only simply symbolic”.

He said von der Leyen visited Cyprus on Europe Day last year, and that this year, European parliament President Roberta Metsola is on the island, before saying that efforts are underway at a European level to produce results regarding Turkey’s stance on Cyprus.

“This effort is currently underway. I can tell you that the EU is working towards Turkey, so that it accepts the resumption of negotiations from where they were interrupted in Crans Montana, on the basis of the agreed framework,” he said.

“Despite the difficulties, despite the problems … I believe that the efforts of the EU, as well as of the international community as a whole … will lead to what we are seeking, to the resumption of negotiations.”

He then pointed out the reappointment of Maria Angela Holguin as the UN’s envoy on the island, before reaffirming his commitment to the resumption of negotiations.

“The positive developments aim at one goal, and one goal only: the resumption of negotiations. This is our goal. Both the international community and the EU are working towards this direction. Let us be patient a little longer,” he said.

He was then asked about Monday’s meeting with Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar, at which agreements on matters including water treatment and the buffer zone village of Pyla were not achieved, and after which Tatar had publicly rejected the idea of a crossing point in central Nicosia.

“I explained the result of the meeting honestly. I do not want to hide anything; I do not want to embellish situations. In the last meeting, unfortunately, there were these three negative statements from Tatar. Of course, I will meet him before Holguin’s arrival if he is ready,” he said.

Christodoulides’ comments come after European Commissioner for Democracy Michael McGrath had said that the EU will “never accept” a two-state solution to the Cyprus problem”.