Ursula von der Leyen Urges Resumption of Cyprus Talks under UN Framework

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has called for renewed discussions on resolving the Cyprus issue within the framework of the United Nations. Speaking during a bilateral meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Ankara, von der Leyen stressed the importance of pursuing a bicommunal, bizonal federal solution, as outlined in UN Security Council resolutions.

The meeting, held on Tuesday, December 17, also addressed issues beyond the Cyprus dispute, with the recent collapse of Bashar al-Assad's regime in Syria being a key topic of discussion.

Over the past four years, Turkish President Erdoğan has consistently advocated for a two-state solution to the Cyprus problem, diverging from the UN-backed federal framework.

In his speech at the UN General Assembly in September, Erdoğan argued that the federal model for resolving the island’s long-standing division is outdated. He once again urged UN member states and the European community to formally recognize the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) as an independent state.

Turkey has repeatedly emphasized the need to acknowledge the existence of two distinct communities on the island, calling for the international community to recognize this reality.