"Greek Cypriots have made their position clear—they refuse to share governance and Cyprus's wealth with Turkish Cypriots. This necessitates a new approach," a Turkish official stated, while emphasizing that Ankara remains open to alternative frameworks for regional cooperation.
Turkey continues to frame the Cyprus issue within the broader context of Greek-Turkish relations, stressing the need for a balanced resolution in the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean. Ankara insists that any regional cooperation—including equitable resource distribution—must first acknowledge the rights of both Turkey and Turkish Cypriots, a condition it claims Greece and Cyprus have consistently rejected.
The UN-sponsored informal talks, scheduled for July 16–17 at the organization's headquarters in New York, will bring together Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders, along with representatives from the guarantor powers Greece, Turkey, and the UK. UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric stated that the discussions aim to build on progress made since the last meeting in Geneva this past March.
With expectations for a breakthrough remaining low, the meeting is widely seen as another step in a protracted diplomatic impasse, as both sides show little sign of softening their long-held positions.
Map: Wikipedia Commons