Nicosia: Nicosia is focusing its diplomatic efforts on convening an expanded summit on the Cyprus problem, hoping that the imminent arrival of the UN Secretary-General's Personal Envoy, Maria Angela Holguin, will provide the necessary momentum. President Nikos Christodoulides, speaking on Sunday, in Episkopeio, a village in the Nicosia district, outlined the government's strategy, describing it as one of "assertive realism" with a full awareness of the difficulties involved. The ultimate objective, he noted, is to pave the way "towards the resumption of negotiations from where they were interrupted in 2017."
According to Cyprus News Agency, President Christodoulides emphasized that despite the current challenges and provocations, his administration remains persistent. The government aims to leverage the commitment of the UN Secretary-General and the support of the European Union to trigger developments that will eventually "liberate our homeland from occupation and reunify it."
While the speech was delivered during the annual memorial for EOKA hero Pantelis Katelaris, the President used the platform to draw parallels between historical struggles and modern diplomatic necessities. He noted that while the EOKA struggle's original objective of union with Greece was not achieved, it succeeded in ending colonial rule. He stressed that the establishment of the Republic of Cyprus remains "the most significant conquest of our people," highlighting the obligation to draw lessons from history to continue the current struggle for reunification.
The President briefly paid tribute to Katelaris, who died in an explosion in 1958, describing him as a devoted patriot whose memory is passed down through generations.