Turkey‘s Foreign Ministry has reiterated its position that there is still no common ground between the two sides for resolving the Cyprus issue, just hours after the trilateral meeting between UN Secretary-General António Guterres, President of the Republic of Cyprus Nikos Christodoulides, and Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhürman.

The statement from Ankara confirms that, despite the Secretary-General’s decision to convene a new informal 5+1 conference aimed at exploring the possibility of resuming negotiations, the Turkish side remains firmly committed to its strategic objective of a settlement based on the sovereign equality of two states.

No Return to Crans-Montana Talks

In a statement, Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesperson Öncü Keçeli said Ankara appreciates the efforts undertaken by António Guterres since the collapse of the previous round of negotiations, but argued that conditions are still not conducive to the launch of substantive talks.

According to Turkey’s position, since there is no common ground for a comprehensive settlement, priority should instead be given to advancing specific confidence-building and cooperation measures within the framework of the process initiated by the UN Secretary-General in 2025. Ankara argues that cooperation on practical issues can help strengthen trust between the island’s two communities.

Criticism of Nicosia

The Turkish Foreign Ministry attributes the current deadlock to the Greek Cypriot side, claiming that its stance remains “intransigent.” It also alleges that actions taken by the Republic of Cyprus are negatively affecting security and stability in the region, without specifying which actions it is referring to.

The statement again rejects a settlement framework based on a bicommunal, bizonal federation, arguing that the models pursued over previous decades have exhausted their potential and can no longer serve as the basis for resolving the Cyprus issue.

Ankara Unwavering on Sovereign Equality

Ankara reiterates that a “just, comprehensive and sustainable solution” can only be achieved on the basis of the “realities on the island,” the sovereign equality of the two sides, and the equal international status of the Turkish Cypriots.

“As the motherland and a guarantor power, we reiterate that a solution to the Cyprus issue can be achieved on the basis of the sovereign equality and equal international status of the Turkish Cypriot people,” the statement says.

The Turkish government concludes by reaffirming that it will continue to provide full political support to the Turkish Cypriot administration and the Turkish Cypriot community.

At Odds with the UN Position

Ankara’s position stands in direct contrast to the public stance of UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who, following the trilateral meeting, reiterated that the United Nations remains committed to the UN Security Council resolutions on Cyprus and announced his intention to convene a new informal conference involving the two sides and the island’s three guarantor powers.

Meanwhile, President of the Republic of Cyprus Nikos Christodoulides said Nicosia’s objective is to prepare the ground so that the next expanded meeting can produce an announcement on the resumption of negotiations from the point at which they broke down in Crans-Montana in 2017.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry’s statement, however, indicates that Ankara continues to reject such a prospect, insisting that any future process must be based on recognition of the sovereign equality of the two sides—a position that falls outside the framework established by the UN Security Council’s resolutions on Cyprus.