Based on this information, write a new short title in English: Özersay: The Greek Cypriot Leader is running in vain by trying to replace the UN with the EU

People’s Party (HP) Chairman Kudret Özersay said that Greek Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulidis tried to present the two sentences about Cyprus and Turkey added to the European summit final declaration as a success, but that even the European Union (EU) itself was not involved in the resolution processes of the Cyprus problem. He said he had made it clear that he had no intention of replacing the (UN).

In his statement, Özersay said, “The Greek Cypriot leader is actually running a waste of time by trying to replace the UN with the European Union. Because the European Union cannot become an impartial mediator in the eyes of Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot side. Since there is a principle of solidarity among the members in the EU, the Greek Cypriot side has to have a biased line. At least, as long as this risk exists in the negotiations for the settlement of the Cyprus problem, Turkey and the TRNC will not allow the EU to play a role other than a technical one. Moreover, the EU itself is not very willing to do so,” he said.

“In these circumstances, energy, trade and economic cooperation is the only way out”

Stating that a comprehensive and final Cyprus solution does not seem “very close” or “probable” under the current conditions, Özersay said that it will reduce the risk of conflict between both parties in Cyprus and Turkey and other regional actors until the process of changing the balances in the region is completed. He pointed out that cooperation should be made in fields such as electricity energy, natural gas, trade, tourism and economics in a way that will increase mutual dependency. Özersay said, “I don’t know if Christodoulides is doing this in order to be able to say ‘I came and I accomplished this’ after the Presidential elections, but it is obvious that this path will not lead to comprehensive solution negotiations.”

Özersay made the following statements in his statement on the subject:

“The Greek Cypriot leader Christodoulidis is trying to show this as a success because the words Cyprus and Turkey were added to the statement as a result of the EU summit meeting. However, he set out with the rhetoric that the EU should take over and lead the Cyprus process, and that the negotiations should resume from where they left off at the federal level, as well as the EU’s appointing a special representative on this issue and the EU’s putting pressure on Turkey. However, at the end of all his contacts, the European Union said in summary, ‘The Cyprus solution process is essentially the United Nations’ job, I will only provide technical support and contribution if requested’ and there is no mention of appointing a special representative (which is actually something in the current conjuncture. would not have noticed) is actually an indication that Christodoulides was spamming on this issue.

The rhetoric of the Greek Cypriot leader Christodoulides, which means ‘EU should take the initiative in the solution of the Cyprus problem, almost in a way that replaces the UN’, is like saying, “Let Turkey be a mediator in the solution of the Cyprus problem”. Because the EU is not a third and neutral actor in the Cyprus issue, but rather one of the parties to the problem. There is a ‘solidarity between member states’ of EU member states, especially on important foreign policy issues. For this reason, the European Union is not perceived as an ‘impartial actor’ by the Turkish Cypriot side and Turkey in the resolution processes of the Cyprus problem. There is a serious lack of trust problem. Maybe at some stage, technical support regarding EU law and institutions can be obtained from the EU Commission, that’s all. Even in that regard, one should be cautious because handling the resolution of political disputes with the strictness of EU law is not beneficial, sometimes even harmful, it can directly turn into the factor that creates the blockage.

“Maybe he is doing this in order to be able to say, ‘I came and I accomplished this’ after the presidential elections, I don’t know, but it is clear that this path will not lead to comprehensive solution negotiations,” said Özersay, adding, “In this new period, it will create mutual dependence in the Eastern Mediterranean region and around the island of Cyprus, and in this way, conflict and tension will arise. It is much more realistic to focus on cooperation models that will reduce the risk. It is necessary to see that a comprehensive and final solution to the Cyprus problem can be reached in parallel with the regional cooperation steps or after their implementation.” said.