**Kallas: Progress on Cyprus Issue Could Facilitate Broader Geopolitical Solutions**
In a statement made on Monday, Kaja Kallas, the European Union’s foreign policy chief, emphasized that advancements in resolving the long-standing Cyprus problem could significantly contribute to addressing other geopolitical challenges. Speaking to Turkey’s Anadolu Agency, Kallas asserted, “Achieving a peaceful solution to the Cyprus issue would open the door to resolving many problems.”
Kallas called for both the European Union and Turkey to actively engage in discussions surrounding the Cyprus issue, highlighting the importance of supporting the mediation and negotiation efforts led by United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Her remarks come at a time when diplomatic efforts are intensifying to resume negotiations regarding the Cyprus problem, which has remained unresolved for decades.
Despite the momentum, unconfirmed reports suggest that the process may experience delays. It has been reported that UN envoy Maria Angela Holguin may postpone her engagements until after the upcoming NATO leaders’ summit, scheduled to take place in Ankara next week. This delay raises questions about the timing of future discussions and the potential for renewed dialogue on the Cyprus issue.
Government spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis confirmed on Monday that Holguin’s anticipated meeting with European Council President Antonio Costa in Brussels has been rescheduled to July 13. The postponement aligns with the decision to wait for the conclusion of the NATO summit before resuming her contacts, which are crucial for advancing the dialogue on security guarantees in a post-solution Cyprus.
The discussions surrounding these security guarantees are centered on the possibility of a NATO-based framework, which could involve the new Cypriot republic’s accession to NATO and the presence of NATO troops from Turkey, Greece, France, the United Kingdom, and the United States on the island. However, a NATO official clarified to the Cyprus Mail that there are currently no meetings planned between Holguin and NATO representatives, and the topic of NATO-based security guarantees has not been a subject of discussion within the organization.
In a recent meeting in New York, Guterres and Holguin had hoped for a swift return to the island to continue the negotiations. However, the revised timeline indicates that Holguin is unlikely to return until the latter half of next month, which may further delay the planned convening of an enlarged meeting involving the two sides of Cyprus, the three guarantor powers—Greece, Turkey, and the United Kingdom—and the UN.
Initial expectations suggested that this enlarged meeting could occur in late July or early August. However, with Holguin’s schedule now pushed back, it is anticipated that the meeting will be postponed until mid-August or later.
The upcoming NATO summit, hosted by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, will see the participation of key leaders, including Kyriakos Mitsotakis of Greece and Sir Keir Starmer of the UK. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Costa are also expected to attend. Notably, Starmer is anticipated to resign shortly after the summit, with outgoing Manchester mayor Andy Burnham expected to succeed him. While this leadership change may alter the political landscape in the UK, it is not expected to impact the country's position on the Cyprus problem.
As diplomatic efforts continue, the international community remains hopeful that progress on the Cyprus issue could pave the way for broader resolutions to other geopolitical conflicts. The commitment from both the EU and Turkey to engage in constructive dialogue will be crucial in determining the future of Cyprus and its role in regional stability.