New york: President Nikos Christodoulides has arrived in New York from Toronto to engage in a series of high-stakes diplomatic activities, including addressing the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and holding a joint meeting with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar.
According to Cyprus News Agency, Government Spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis announced that during the High-Level Week, President Christodoulides will engage in discussions with various heads of state and government, top executives from international organizations, and key business figures in energy, technology, and financial services sectors.
The President is also scheduled to participate in events organized by the Cypriot diaspora, which plays a significant role in promoting Cyprus’s national positions and maintaining strong ties with the United States. Among his other commitments, President Christodoulides will meet with King Abdullah II of Jordan and executives from Chevron and Amazon on September 22nd.
The following day, he will attend a reception hosted by the UN Secretary-General for heads of state and participate in the opening of the General Assembly Plenary. He will then join a reception hosted by US President Donald Trump and the First Lady. On the same day, separate meetings with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and President of Lebanon Joseph Aoun are on his agenda.
Letymbiotis explained that on September 24th, President Christodoulides will address the UNGA Plenary, emphasizing Cyprus’s commitment to international legitimacy and the need for a sustainable solution to the Cyprus issue based on UN resolutions and EU principles.
A bilateral meeting with the UN Secretary-General is scheduled for the next day to discuss the latest developments in the Cyprus issue, with an aim to resume negotiations. The President will also host a luncheon for the Permanent Representatives of the five Permanent Members of the UN Security Council and meet with Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang and executives from ExxonMobil.
On September 26, meetings are planned with the Crown Prince of Kuwait, Sabah Al-Khalid Al-Sabah. The following day, a joint meeting with the UN Secretary-General and Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar will take place, reaffirming the UN’s dedication to reinitiating Cyprus negotiations.
President Christodoulides will conclude his visit to New York on September 27, accompanied by Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos, Government Spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis, Deputy Minister for European Affairs Marilena Raouna, Director of the President’s Diplomatic Office Doros Venezis, and other officials.
Cyprus remains divided since Turkey’s invasion in 1974, with ongoing efforts for peace talks. Recent initiatives, including a broad informal meeting in New York last July, aim to keep dialogue active. The European Commission appointed Johannes Hahn as Special Envoy for Cyprus to aid the settlement process alongside UN Personal Envoy Maria Angela Holgun.