Türkiye says EU's new Cyprus envoy appointment remains an internal matter

Türkiye has responded to the European Commission's decision to appoint a new special envoy for Cyprus by characterising the move as a matter internal to the European Union. The statement, issued by Foreign Ministry spokesperson Öncü Keçeli on Monday, noted that Ankara views the appointment similarly to past such decisions.

Türkiye's Criticism of EU Stance

Keçeli stated that Türkiye considers the EU to have lost its neutrality on the Cyprus issue in 2004, when it admitted the Greek Cypriot administration as a member despite its rejection of a UN-backed settlement plan. He added that EU institutions, particularly the European Parliament, have since pursued a "completely biased" approach, a position that has become more pronounced in recent years.

Expectations for the New Envoy

Türkiye expects the newly appointed European Commission official to work toward changing the EU's stance and to recognise that a settlement can only be reached through negotiations between two sovereign and equal states on the island. "A settlement can only be reached through negotiations between two sovereign and equal states based on the realities on the island," the spokesperson said.

Background to the Cyprus Dispute

Cyprus has been divided for decades due to a conflict between Greek and Turkish Cypriots. Ethnic attacks in the early 1960s forced Turkish Cypriots to withdraw into enclaves. In 1974, a Greek Cypriot coup aimed at union with Greece prompted Türkiye to intervene as a guarantor power, leading to the establishment of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in 1983. The Greek Cypriot administration joined the EU in 2004, the same year Greek Cypriots blocked a UN settlement plan.