EU will 'never, ever' accept a two-state deal for Cyprus, says Von der Leyen

Photo: AA/File

The EU will never accept a two-state deal for the de facto divided island of Cyprus, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has said.

She made this clear to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in a recent phone conversation, Von der Leyen said at a press conference at the European Parliament on Tuesday (July 6).

"I told him that we are very sensitive in this matter, that we will monitor the progress of this visit and that it is absolutely clear that the EU will never accept anything that refers to the two-state solution," she said.

Von der Leyen reiterated the EU's position on the issue today during a visit to Cyprus. "I want to repeat that we will never, ever accept a two-state solution. We are firm on that and very united," she told a press conference.

"Our neighbors have an interest in good bilateral relations. If this is the case, and we also have an interest in good bilateral relations, I want our neighbors to know that if they speak to one of our member states, like for example Cyprus, in whatever tone, they speak to the European Union," she added.

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The latest round of Cyprus talks in Geneva that started in April was inconclusive as Turkey and the Northern Cyprus administration insisted on a two-state solution.

The talks were held between Southern Cyprus, Northern Cyprus, Turkey, Greece and the UK.

If there are to be a new round of talks on Cyprus, these should no longer be between the two communities, but between the two states, Erdoğan said in May.

(VK)