Nicosia: The Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Alain Berset, visited Nicosia Town Hall, accompanied by the President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides. They were welcomed by the Mayor of Nicosia, Charalambos Prountzos, who guided them through the Town Hall and, from the rooftop of the building, pointed out several of the capital’s most notable landmarks to Mr. Berset.
According to Cyprus News Agency, during his visit, the Secretary General signed the municipality’s guest book, writing: ‘My visit to Nicosia is a strong reminder of the importance of dialogue, reconciliation and peace.’ He added that the Council of Europe ‘stands with all those working to overcome division and to build bridges of understanding, tolerance and coexistence. I extend my warm thanks to President Christodoulides for his commitment to these values.’
The visit concluded with a tour along the Green Line. Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results due to Turkish intransigence. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively.