Nicosia: The heroes who sacrificed their lives during the 1974 Turkish invasion underscore the duty and responsibility of Cyprus's current leadership to end the ongoing Turkish occupation, President Nikos Christodoulides declared. This statement was made during a memorial service at the Tomb of Makedonitissa, dedicated to the officers and soldiers who perished in the invasion.
According to Cyprus News Agency, President Christodoulides highlighted the upcoming visit of United Nations Secretary-General Ant³nio Guterres to Cyprus. The primary objective of this visit is to organize an expanded conference that will announce the resumption of negotiations from the point where they were previously suspended. The President emphasized the importance of honoring the fallen heroes by working diligently towards ending the Turkish occupation and reuniting Cyprus.
Christodoulides mentioned that the expanded five-party conference is anticipated by late August or early September. He confirmed Cyprus's readiness and stated that the progression of talks largely depends on Turkey's response. The President remains hopeful that Guterres' visit will result in positive announcements regarding the Cyprus issue.
The President stressed that any improvements in EU-Turkey relations would require tangible positive developments concerning the Cyprus problem. He reiterated that any future settlement must align with the European Union's legal framework, principles, and values, given Cyprus's status as an EU member state.
Despite reports of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan not attending the anniversary events of the 1974 invasion in the occupied north of Cyprus, Christodoulides asserted that this does not alter the ongoing situation resulting from Turkey's actions over the past 52 years.
Cyprus has remained divided since the 1974 invasion, with numerous UN-led peace talks failing to produce a solution due to Turkish intransigence. As the UN Secretary-General's term approaches its end, efforts for a broader-format meeting continue, led by Guterres' Personal Envoy Mara Angela Holgun and the European Commission's Special Representative for Cyprus, Raffaele Fitto.