Nicosia: President of the Republic Nikos Christodoulides has announced his intention to engage in a substantive discussion at the upcoming Geneva Meeting on the Cyprus issue. The goal is to reinitiate negotiations aimed at resolving the Cyprus problem, building on the framework that was left incomplete after talks were halted in Crans Montana in 2017.
According to Cyprus News Agency, the President expressed his readiness and preparedness to contribute constructively to the discussions, aiming for an outcome that will sustain the negotiation process. In a televised message, he emphasized the importance of the upcoming informal expanded meeting under the UN’s guidance, scheduled for March 17-18, 2025, following a preliminary meeting in New York on October 15.
President Christodoulides highlighted that the expanded conference is a result of coordinated efforts and a clear political resolve recognized internationally. He expressed his commitment to approaching the meeting with seriousness, aiming to pave the wa
y for resuming negotiations based on the established framework from the 2017 Crans Montana discussions.
He further explained that, in line with the protocol of expanded meetings, he will represent both the Republic of Cyprus and the Greek Cypriot community in the intercommunal aspects of the negotiations. The President reiterated the importance of adhering to international law, the United Nations Charter, and principles of the European Union, considering current regional and global challenges.
The international community maintains that the solution to the Cyprus issue should be a bicommunal, bizonal federation with political equality, as outlined in UN Security Council resolutions. This includes one sovereignty, international personality, and single citizenship, with guaranteed independence and territorial integrity.
The division of Cyprus has persisted since 1974 following Turkey’s invasion and occupation of the northern third. Despite numerous UN-led peace talks, a resolution has remained elusive, primar
ily due to Turkish intransigence. The upcoming Geneva meeting, called by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, will involve key stakeholders, including representatives from Greece, Turkey, and the UK, in an effort to advance the peace process.