Morphou:President Nikos Christodoulides of Cyprus expressed confidence that there is a renewed opportunity to address the longstanding Cyprus issue, emphasizing ongoing efforts to restart negotiations halted in 2017. He made these remarks during a briefing at the Presidential Palace with Morphou's Mayor and Municipal Council, alongside foreign guests attending an anti-occupation event.

According to Cyprus News Agency, the President has initiated discussions with the Turkish Cypriot leader to explore ways to resume talks. He noted that the United Nations has created a document summarizing previous negotiation agreements, which he views as a positive step toward renewed dialogue. This document is expected to be shared with all parties for feedback to form the basis of future discussions.

President Christodoulides presented a 19-point proposal to the Turkish Cypriot leader during their last meeting, featuring new suggestions on negotiation methodology, substance, and confidence-building measures. The proposals were well-received by the UN, and the Turkish Cypriot side has agreed to review them without committing to acceptance or rejection. The President hopes for productive talks on these proposals to establish necessary conditions for progress.

He expressed optimism about leveraging the tenure of the current UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, to advance the talks and mentioned ongoing communication with potential candidates for the role. He clarified that the form of any Cyprus settlement remains consistent regardless of the Secretary-General, given the mandate of the UN Security Council.

President Christodoulides also highlighted the European Union's potential role in resolving the Cyprus problem, citing political support from the EU and the appointment of Executive Vice-President Raffaele Fitto as Special Representative. The EU's involvement extends to EU-Turkey relations, with Cyprus ready to engage in discussions, particularly on the Customs Union.

Meanwhile, Morphou Mayor Victor Hadjiavraam expressed hope for a settlement if recent diplomatic efforts result in substantive progress and a five-party meeting is convened. He reiterated that Morphou should return under Greek Cypriot administration, despite ongoing developments in Turkish-occupied areas complicating negotiations. Hadjiavraam noted the nine-year gap since the last talks at Crans-Montana, emphasizing the need for a resolution.