Nicosia: President Nikos Christodoulides on Sunday emphasized the Greek Cypriot side's readiness to engage in broader discussions concerning the Cyprus issue and to implement confidence-building measures (CBMs) that would bolster efforts towards the reunification of Cyprus, rather than measures that would maintain the current division.
According to Cyprus News Agency, President Christodoulides made these remarks following a memorial service in Geri. He addressed the media regarding the upcoming week in Cyprus talks, which includes his meeting with the Turkish Cypriot leader and the visit of the President of the European Council. He highlighted that preparatory work has already commenced, building on the outcomes from the recent visit by the UN Secretary-General and the Executive Vice-President of the European Commission, with ongoing efforts being made.
The President further mentioned that Maria Angela Holguin, the UN Secretary-General's personal envoy on Cyprus, is expected to visit the island in early September. Her visit aims to facilitate intensive meetings aimed at achieving tangible outcomes. He noted that an informal milestone is the upcoming UN General Assembly week, where separate meetings with the Secretary-General are planned.
President Christodoulides expressed the Greek Cypriot side's preparedness for a broader format meeting if deemed necessary by the Secretary-General. He stressed that all efforts are focused on resuming talks from where they were previously halted. When asked about his optimism for outcomes from the New York meeting, he assured that every effort is being made to achieve results and that any lack of progress would not be due to their inaction.
The President also reflected on his initial meeting with the Turkish Cypriot leader, which facilitated a constructive discussion on crucial issues, methodology, and CBMs. He acknowledged that Holguin's presence, along with UN efforts on areas of convergence, would contribute positively to the overall mission, as would the UN envoy's interactions with guarantor powers, particularly Turkey.
On the topic of new crossing points, President Christodoulides indicated that various CBM-related issues are under discussion. He reiterated his commitment to CBMs that promote reunification and resolve the Cyprus issue, rather than those that normalize the existing division.
Further discussions on crossing points occurred in their recent meeting, revisiting issues initially discussed with the UN Secretary-General in Geneva in March 2025. The President mentioned accepting a compromise proposal suggested by the Secretary-General, yet no outcome was reached, though efforts continue with a spirit of goodwill.
In his earlier speech, President Christodoulides emphasized the importance of responsibility, clear strategy, coordination, and unity for the country's future. He stated that recent developments, including visits by the UN Secretary-General and the European Commission's envoy, support his administration's strategy to resume negotiations based on the agreed framework from Crans-Montana, respecting EU law principles.
Despite challenges, President Christodoulides remains cautiously optimistic about completing the final steps needed to end the occupation, pointing to the progress since he assumed office in March 2023.