Turkey insists that a peaceful resolution to the Cyprus issue is only possible through the creation of two states on the island. This was stated by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, as quoted by the Associated Press.
According to the Turkish minister, Cyprus “should continue along the path of a two-state solution.” He also argued that spending efforts on other agreements to end the decades-long division of Cyprus would be “a waste of time.”
Fidan’s comments came amidst plans by the United Nations to organize a meeting in early spring in hopes of resuming official negotiations to resolve the Cyprus issue.
The last major attempt to reach a peace agreement failed in 2017. Since then, Turkey has continued to advocate for a two-state solution.
Cyprus was divided after Turkey’s invasion in 1974, which followed a brief coup orchestrated by Greece. Peace talks have been suspended since 2017.
The Turkish Cypriot side governs a separatist state in northern Cyprus, which is recognized only by Ankara. Turkey claims that the resumption of negotiations hinges on the recognition of equal sovereignty with the Greek Cypriot government.
