Nicosia: President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, will depart for Athens on Saturday for discussions with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. The President has indicated the potential for a subsequent meeting with EU Special Representative for Cyprus, Rafaele Fitto, following his discussions with the Greek Prime Minister.
According to Cyprus News Agency, President Christodoulides addressed journalists upon his arrival at Timios Stavros Square in Omodos, where he will be speaking at an inauguration event. When queried about his upcoming visit to Athens, the President emphasized the necessity of coordinating with Greece in light of the impending visit of the UN Secretary-General to Cyprus from July 27-29.
President Christodoulides highlighted the likelihood of engaging with EU Envoy Fitto after his talks with Mitsotakis. He expressed the importance of leveraging current diplomatic momentum, largely driven by the Republic's strategic initiatives, to resume negotiations on the Cyprus issue based on the framework established before talks were interrupted in 2017.
In response to questions about the involvement of UN Secretary-General's Personal Envoy for Cyprus, Mara Angela Holgun, President Christodoulides mentioned her recent meetings in Brussels with Fitto. These discussions revolved around aligning the EU's stance with that of the Republic of Cyprus concerning the ongoing dispute.
Additionally, Holgun's upcoming engagements include a significant meeting with the Turkish Foreign Minister in Turkey, followed by a visit to Cyprus. President Christodoulides indicated plans for a meeting with Holgun either on Sunday or early Monday, in preparation for the impending visit of the UN Secretary-General.
The Cyprus issue remains unresolved since the division of the island in 1974 following Turkey's invasion and occupation of the northern third. Despite numerous rounds of UN-mediated peace talks, a resolution has yet to be achieved, primarily due to Turkish intransigence. The most recent formal negotiations in 2017 ended without agreement, but efforts continue for renewed dialogue as the term of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres approaches its conclusion. Holgun, appointed as Guterres' Personal Envoy for Cyprus, is working to facilitate discussions, alongside EU Special Representative Raffaele Fitto, who has succeeded Johannes Hahn in this role.