The United Nations and the European Union believe there may be scope for progress on the Cyprus issue, although the Greek Cypriot side has conveyed to both that Turkey's current stance and public messaging do not point in that direction, sources told the Cyprus News Agency (CNA).
According to the sources, both the UN and the EU see a possible opportunity to move the Cyprus issue forward. However, the Greek Cypriot side has stressed that Ankara's position, and the signals it has been sending publicly, have so far failed to support such a prospect.
Turkey's Navtex
The same sources said the Greek Cypriot side had highlighted Turkey's recent Navtex notice for seismic surveys linked to plans to construct a natural gas pipeline connecting the Turkish coast with the island's Turkish-held north.
While the Navtex does not appear to concern Cyprus' Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), it is nevertheless viewed as a problematic development because of the project for which the area has been reserved, the sources said.
They added that the timing of the announcement, coinciding with UN Secretary-General António Guterres' visit to Cyprus, was a factor that should be taken into account, including by Guterres himself.
EU relations
The sources also referred to Ankara's efforts to decouple progress in EU-Turkey relations from developments on the Cyprus issue.
According to the sources, during meetings in Turkey between European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President António Costa, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Fidan sought to separate progress in EU-Turkey relations from progress on Cyprus.
However, the sources said von der Leyen and Costa made it clear that any advancement in EU-Turkey relations would require progress on the Cyprus issue first.
Source: CNA
