Erdogan and also the President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (KKTC), which is only recognized by Turkey, Ersin Tatar, are calling for the final division of the island into two states after many years of fruitless negotiations – a Turkish Cypriot in the north and a Greek Cypriot in the south. These could then cooperate in a kind of loose confederation. The Greek Cypriot side, however, wants to continue talking about a federation of two states as a solution. The United Nations also demand this in resolutions of the UN Security Council.
Relations between Turkey and EU member Cyprus are extremely tense because of the occupation of the northern part of the island by Turkish troops, which has been going on since 1974, and disputes over sovereign rights and energy resources in the eastern Mediterranean. Ankara also does not recognize the EU member Cyprus.
An attempt at mediation by UN Secretary General António Guterres failed miserably at the end of April. The positions of the Greek and Turkish Cypriot sides are so far apart that not even formal negotiations can be started, Guterres admitted at the time.
