The Cyprus issue featured prominently in a joint statement by European Council President António Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen following a dinner with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Ankara on Wednesday evening on the sidelines of the NATO summit.
The two EU leaders stressed that the current “renewed momentum” should be used to help advance a settlement of the Cyprus problem through the UN-led process.
In their statement, Costa and von der Leyen thanked Erdoğan for his warm welcome in Ankara, saying that “the European Union and Turkey are strategic partners and we are committed to strengthening our relationship”.
“In an increasingly challenging world, our partnership is more important than ever,” they added.
The two leaders also highlighted Turkey's role in regional affairs.
“Turkey has been an important partner in addressing crises in the Middle East and supporting efforts towards a just and lasting peace in Ukraine,” they said.
They concluded with a reference to the Cyprus issue: “We must also seize the renewed momentum to advance a settlement of the Cyprus problem through the process under the auspices of the United Nations.”
Present at the meeting were Costa's chief foreign policy adviser Anna-Maria Boura, von der Leyen's head of cabinet Björn Seibert, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Trade Minister Ömer Bolat.
Like other leaders attending the NATO summit, Costa and von der Leyen also received a gift from host president Erdoğan. In keeping with a tradition sometimes associated with defence-related gatherings, the gift reportedly consisted of a revolver engraved with the recipient's name, accompanied by live ammunition and the relevant export documentation.
Source: CNA
