The President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, revealed that Cyprus has sent an invitation to Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan to participate in the informal European Council in Cyprus or, alternatively, to be represented by the Minister of Foreign Affairs or the Deputy Minister for European Affairs in informal meetings of the General Affairs Council.
However, as he himself clarified in an interview with SKAI, the first reaction from the Turkish side was not positive, without however stopping Nicosia's efforts for positive developments.
Detailed excerpt from Nikos Christodoulides' interview with SKAI:
It sounds, Mr. President, that you will try to bring the European Union closer to Turkey, based on both the and the presidency (ed. in the Council of the EU) that has begun. Will Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan be invited to the informal Council meeting, which will be held in Cyprus in April?
Nikos Christodoulides: I will also give you some exclusive news that is not pleasant for us. We had approached both the institutions and some member states of the European Union that have a special relationship with Turkey, sending this readiness to invite either President Erdogan to the informal European Council, or the Minister of Foreign Affairs to Gymnich in Cyprus, or even the Deputy Minister for European Affairs to the Informal General Affairs Council that will be held in Cyprus. About 24 hours ago we asked some people to mediate, because our goal was not to send an invitation and get a negative response. Our goal is to create positive developments. About 24 hours ago we were informed that the reaction from Turkey is not positive.
So he didn't accept it.
Nikos Christodoulides: It is not positive.
Do you have any further answer to this? Why perhaps?
Nikos Christodoulides: This is the message we have received. They are not positive. Despite this, we will not stop the effort.
Source: liberal.gr
