Nicosia: President Nikos Christodoulides stated on Sunday that during his two and a half years in office, his administration has succeeded in convincing all parties interested in resolving the Cyprus issue. He emphasized that there is widespread recognition of the sincerity of their intentions and a welcoming attitude towards their readiness for substantial progress, which could lead to the resumption of peace talks.
According to Cyprus News Agency, President Christodoulides delivered a speech at a remembrance event for imprisoned EOKA fighters at the Kokkinotrimithia Detention Center. In his address, he expressed a strong belief in the potential for reunifying the homeland for the benefit of all its legal citizens and highlighted his continued efforts for reunification with assertive realism.
President Christodoulides outlined his administration’s policy goals, which include implementing five key priorities: continuous reforms to modernize institutions, enhancing national defense and security, maintaining a robust economy, combating corruption, and improving citizens’ daily lives with quality health, education, and social welfare services.
Additionally, the President discussed the government’s effective management of migration influxes, noting their determined approach to the issue. He also emphasized Cyprus’s role on the international stage, describing the country as a pillar of security and stability in the Eastern Mediterranean and the wider Middle East. Cyprus is becoming a hub for stability, a transit point for safe civilian evacuation, a corridor for humanitarian aid, and a beacon in a region frequently facing crises.
Regarding the upcoming EU Presidency, President Christodoulides described it as a national mission that offers an opportunity to underscore Cyprus’s active and essential role. He celebrated the Republic of Cyprus’s 65-year history of having a presence, role, and voice in regional developments and challenges, portraying it as a responsible, stable, reliable, and self-confident country on a path of progress and prosperity.
Reflecting on the EOKA struggle, the President remarked that seven decades later, the liberation struggle remains a significant reference point in the collective memory, providing an inexhaustible source of inspiration and eternal lessons.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Multiple rounds of UN-led peace talks have failed to produce results due to Turkish intransigence. The most recent negotiations in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended without resolution. In 2025, the UN Secretary-General hosted informal meetings on Cyprus in Geneva, New York, and a tripartite meeting during the UN General Assembly High-Level Week, with another informal meeting expected later this year.
Mara Angela Holgun, the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy on Cyprus, is tasked with engaging the parties, while former European Commissioner Johannes Hahn, designated by the Commission as Special Envoy for Cyprus, is expected to contribute to the settlement process in cooperation with Holgun.