“Foreigners say that the most important thing for Greeks is security. Therefore, there is no reason for Turkish soldiers to remain on the island. 250–300 of them can remain within NATO forces, but they will be under the Alliance’s own command. This will result in a purely Greek state.”

Comments like these, which were still being heard even during Erdoğan’s crucial dinner with European Union leaders, seem to have quashed any willingness to negotiate on the Cyprus issue—if such a willingness ever existed—on the part of the Turkish President.

To be precise, the situation following the dinner is so bleak that the United Nations is having second thoughts about whether an informal five-party meeting should take place this summer in Geneva, as reported in the Turkish Cypriot press.

“Despite statements from the UN and the EU regarding the creation of a small ‘window of opportunity’ and the existence of momentum, the fate of the meeting—originally planned for late July or early August—remains uncertain. Sources maintain that the conditions for the conference have not yet been established.”
_{^{Genie Douzen}}

The Bitter Aftertaste of Dinner

Reports from Ankara suggest that Erdogan appeared particularly reluctant to discuss anything regarding the Cyprus issue, citing fatigue from the NATO Summit’s heavy schedule.

However, he reportedly reiterated at the meeting Ankara’s insistence that any future negotiation process must begin with the recognition of the sovereign equality and equal international status of the Turkish Cypriot side.

In other words, two states. Making it clear that he is not… selling out the Cyprus issue for the sake of EU-Turkey relations.

Criticism Instead of a Response

In essence, Turkey’s stance left no room for negotiation regarding the proposal conveyed by Brussels.

European concessions to Turkey in exchange for Cyprus’s accession to NATO.

In fact, just a few hours after the dinner, Ankara launched an attack against Europe.

The trigger was the European Parliament’s resolution to recognize the abuse of women by Turkey in 1974 as war crimes.

“We had only 33 votes against. This means that the majority of MEPs have become allies in this historic effort we undertook.”
_{^{Eleonora Meleti – Member of the European Parliament}}

“We do not recognize this decision in any way. We consider it null and void. Unfortunately, the European Parliament has been used as a tool for the Greek Cypriot side’s propaganda. This decision, which has absolutely no basis, has absolutely no value for us.”
_{^{Cevdet Yılmaz – Vice President of Turkey}}

The five-party talks hang by a thread

Everything now hinges on Maria Olgin’s new round of critical talks.

The Secretary-General’s Special Envoy is traveling to Brussels on Monday to be briefed by António Costa on the Ankara dinner, while Nikos Christodoulides will meet with Ursula von der Leyen in Paris.

The coming days will be decisive in determining whether or not the informal five-party meeting will take place.

Watch Giorgos Georgiadis’s report: