The reason for the European criticism is the preparation in New York for the UN Climate Conference that will be held later this year in Antalya, Turkey. According to the European Commission, Cyprus was not invited to several preparatory meetings and briefings. EU Climate Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra calls this unacceptable and emphasizes that all European Union countries must be treated equally.
The issue is especially sensitive because Cyprus currently holds the rotating presidency of the EU. As a result, it often represents the joint position of the 27 EU countries. According to the European Commission, excluding an EU member state is not in line with the responsibility that comes with hosting an international UN conference.
Divided
The tensions surrounding the climate summit touch on a much older conflict. Turkey controls the northern half of the island following the Turkish invasion of 1974 and does not recognize the Republic or maintain diplomatic relations with the government in Nicosia. This division on the island therefore continues to affect international contacts and meetings.
Promotion
At the same time, a solution to the Cyprus problem remains distant. Despite decades of negotiations and mediation attempts, little progress has been made. Talks are currently focused mainly on practical issues, while negotiations on a final political settlement are absent.
New Leader
The recent election of Tufan Erhürman as the new leader of the Turkish-Cypriot community initially raised new expectations. Before his election, he expressed positive views about the UN framework for a solution and was seen as a more conciliatory figure. However, since taking office, little of this has been visible. Publicly, he no longer speaks about that framework and even avoids using the word federation.
UN Envoy
Meanwhile, the UN special envoy María Ángela Holguín continues her efforts to bring the parties closer together. This week she is holding talks in Nicosia with President Nikos Christodoulides and Tufan Erhürman. She will then travel to Greece and Turkey to continue her consultations.
President Christodoulides continues to speak of a possible window of opportunity for new negotiations. Whether the new diplomatic efforts will actually lead to progress remains uncertain. For now, the dominant picture is of a conflict that remains deadlocked despite new initiatives.