Cyprus extended an invitation to Turkey to take part in an informal European Union summit to be held on the island, President Nikos Christodoulides revealed on Wednesday. While Ankara’s initial response was not positive, Nicosia insists it will not abandon its diplomatic efforts to encourage constructive engagement.
The Invitation and Its Scope
Speaking in an interview with SKAI, President Christodoulides disclosed that Cyprus had expressed readiness to invite Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to the informal European Council meeting scheduled to take place in Cyprus.
Alternatively, Ankara was offered the option of being represented by Turkey’s Foreign Minister at the Gymnich meeting, or by the Deputy Minister for European Affairs at the informal meeting of the General Affairs Council, both of which are also set to be hosted in Cyprus.
Seeking Mediation for a Positive Outcome
According to the President, Cyprus approached EU institutions as well as certain member states with close ties to Turkey, asking them to act as intermediaries. The objective, he explained, was not to issue an invitation that would be met with an outright rejection, but rather to create the conditions for positive developments in EU–Turkey relations.
“We sought mediation because our aim was not to send an invitation and receive a negative response,” President Christodoulides said. “Our aim is to generate positive momentum.”
Turkey’s Initial Reaction
The President revealed that, a few days ago, Cyprus was informed that the reaction from the Turkish side was not positive.
Asked whether this amounted to a refusal, President Christodoulides replied that the message received was simply that Ankara’s stance was negative at this stage. He added, however, that this would not deter Cyprus from continuing its efforts.
Efforts Will Continue
Despite the setback, President Christodoulides stressed that Nicosia remains committed to pursuing dialogue and engagement, underlining that diplomatic initiatives will continue in the hope of achieving constructive outcomes.
With information from skai.gr