Nicosia: The ongoing occupation of part of Cyprus and the war fronts both in the region and internationally leave us no room for complacency, said the President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, on Sunday. He stressed that the government is doing everything it can, putting in all its energy, using every diplomatic tool and every international opportunity and development to keep its promise and respond responsibly and honourably to the “call of duty” in relation to a Cyprus settlement.
According to Cyprus News Agency, in his commemorative speech at the 67th Memorial Service for the heroes of EOKA ’55-’59 and the Turkish invasion of the communities of Spilia and Kourdalia, President Christodoulides said that “despite the adverse conditions, despite the impasse we have been in since 2017, despite the negative attitude of the Turkish side and despite any other challenges and difficulties, we have managed to restart the process and are now facing a new effort.”
As he said, “the two envoys, from the United Nations and the European Commission, prove the truth of this statement and the result of our efforts,” repeating that “we are continuing despite the difficulties and challenges.”
According to President Christodoulides, “we must work collectively and away from petty politics and expediency to bring about the change that Cyprus deserves, its development and restructuring in all areas.”
In view of the upcoming expanded conference in New York in July, our side is preparing intensively to create the right conditions for the resumption of the dialogue on the Cyprus issue, said from his part the Minister of the Interior, Konstantinos Ioannou, assuring that the struggle continues in a targeted manner towards the desired solution.
On Sunday morning, the Minister of the Interior represented the President of the Republic at the national memorial service for the hero of the Agros community, Petros Eliades, who was fatally wounded by the British on 14 June 1956 while attempting to detonate a bomb.
According to the Minister, the active presence of the European Union in the ongoing efforts of the United Nations “demonstrates the practical support of our European family for the process, and we hope that it will be catalytic for the future.”
At the same time, he stressed that the Greek Cypriot side is preparing intensively for the upcoming expanded conference, to be held under the auspices of the Secretary-General of the United Nations in New York in July, “so as to create the right conditions that will lead us to substantial progress and the resumption of dialogue.”
“Our ultimate goal is to achieve a functional and viable solution that will guarantee the rights of all legal citizens of the Republic of Cyprus, which we want to evolve into a normal state, free from an occupying army, guarantors and intervention rights,” he added.
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.
UN Secretary-General announced that an informal meeting on Cyprus in a broader format will be held at the end of July, following a similar meeting in Geneva, on March 17-18. The two sides agreed to proceed with a number of initiatives, involving the opening of crossing points, the creation of a Technical Committee on Youth and other initiatives in the buffer zone and throughout the island.
The UN Secretary-General Ant³nio Guterres announced in early May the appointment of Mara Angela Holgun Cu©llar of Colombia as his Personal Envoy on Cyprus, who is tasked to reengage with the parties in order to work on next steps on the Cyprus issue and advise him. Holgun completed a previous assignment as Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General on Cyprus from January to July 2024.
The European Commission designated Johannes Hahn, a former European Commissioner, as Special Envoy for Cyprus to contribute to the settlement process, in close cooperation with Holgun.