Nicosia: The President of France, Emmanuel Macron, and the Prime Minister of Greece, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, are set to visit Cyprus on Monday for discussions with President Nikos Christodoulides. This visit aims to deliberate on regional developments and strengthen ongoing coordination among partner countries, as confirmed by Government Spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis.
According to Cyprus News Agency, Letymbiotis, speaking at the Presidential Palace, emphasized the continuous coordination between the Cypriot President and leaders from European Union member states and neighboring countries. He highlighted the well-established communication with the Government of the Hellenic Republic, the President of the Republic of France, and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Italy.
The spokesman announced that the short visit by the French President and Greek Prime Minister is a part of this ongoing collaboration. During their stay, the leaders will engage in discussions with President Christodoulides to assess regional developments and evaluate the high level of coordination among the three countries and Italy. This follows the deployment of a frigate, as part of enhanced preventive measures by Cyprus with partner states' support.
Letymbiotis expressed gratitude for the assistance provided by these countries and mentioned that more details regarding the joint visit would be disclosed once the program is finalized.
In related regional security news, a Shahed-type drone attack on military facilities in the British Bases in Akrotiri, Cyprus, caused minor damage amid ongoing regional tensions. This incident led to increased security measures and the deployment of defense assets by Greece, France, and the UK to protect Cyprus. Nicosia maintains its stance of non-involvement in the broader Middle East conflict.
Concerning the repatriation of Cypriot nationals, six flights have returned 950 citizens to Cyprus. Letymbiotis acknowledged the significant number of repatriations given the current circumstances and thanked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' National Crisis Management Centre staff for their efforts. He assured that repatriation efforts would continue as long as security conditions allow.
Additionally, Cyprus has received exploratory contacts from other countries interested in using its operational capacity for repatriating their nationals. Letymbiotis clarified that Cyprus is ready to act as a transit hub when the conditions are appropriate, although no formal requests have been made yet due to the ongoing regional crisis.
Addressing reports about potential Turkish fighter jet arrivals in Turkish-occupied Cyprus, Letymbiotis stated that these reports are being assessed as part of preventive measures to ensure safety in cooperation with European and regional partners. He reiterated Cyprus's commitment to its humanitarian role and expressed hope for a rapid de-escalation of the situation.
Cyprus has faced division since 1974 following Turkey's invasion and occupation of its northern third. Despite numerous UN-led peace talks, a resolution remains elusive, with the last negotiations in 2017 at Crans-Montana ending without success.