Nicosia: Moldovan President, Maia Sandu, is paying an official visit to Cyprus on Friday, at the invitation of the President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides. President Sandu will be received on Friday morning at the Presidential Palace by President Christodoulides. A private meeting between the two leaders will take place, to be followed by extended talks between the delegations of the two countries and statements of the two Presidents to the media.
According to Cyprus News Agency, the visit marks the first by a Moldovan President to Cyprus in 22 years. Government Spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis emphasized this visit as a demonstration of the willingness of the two countries to upgrade their bilateral relations and cooperation. This visit follows multiple meetings between the Presidents of the two countries at international conferences over the last 2.5 years.
The Presidents will then proceed to Nicosia City Hall and tour the ceasefire line. Later in the day, at 14:00, President Sandu will meet with the President of the House of Representatives, Annita Demetriou. Letymbiotis highlighted that Nicosia will welcome President Sandu with a clear political intention to strengthen the bilateral framework of cooperation in areas such as justice, education, and transportation, through completing pending agreements that will create new momentum and benefits for citizens.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37% of its territory.