Cyprus leader Hristodulidis: solution won’t be fully fair but negotiations stay cautiously optimistic

Greek‑Cypriot leader Nikos Hristodulidis told Kathimerini that talks to restart the Cyprus settlement are proceeding with "cautious optimism". He said progress depends on tangible steps and that Turkey will only benefit if the process moves forward, linking its interests to the European Union. Hristodulidis stressed that the EU‑Turkey customs union, visa liberalisation and broader EU‑Turkey cooperation are key levers, and that a new EU Commission representative has been appointed to the talks.

He warned against any "constructive ambiguity", insisting that security guarantees for Turkey must be clear and that any solution cannot be entirely fair because restoring the pre‑1974 situation is impossible. He added that the United Nations Secretary‑General’s recent meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was followed by further discussions in Brussels, and that the upcoming European Council decisions in 2024 will shape the next phase of the negotiations.