Skopje: President of the Republic of North Macedonia, Gordana Siljanovska Davkova, has stressed her country’s full respect for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Republic of Cyprus, as well as the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions.
According to Cyprus News Agency, the Ambassador of the Republic of Cyprus to the Republic of North Macedonia, based in Belgrade, Andreas Fotiou, recently presented his credentials to the President of the Republic of North Macedonia in an official ceremony at the Presidential Palace. During the ceremony, Ambassador Fotiou reiterated Cyprus’ firm support for North Macedonia’s European path, adding that the European perspective of the Western Balkans is the only sustainable way to consolidate peace, long-term stability, and prosperity in the region. He expressed certainty that the country’s accession to the European Union will bring even greater opportunities for cooperation and development.
Fotiou also referred to the 50 years since the Turkish invasion of Cypr
us and thanked North Macedonia for its position of principles regarding the independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of the Republic of Cyprus. The President of North Macedonia pointed out that since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 2019, bilateral relations and cooperation between the two countries have gained new goals and momentum, based on mutual understanding and support, as well as the desire to establish strong ties between the two countries and their citizens.
In addition, she underlined her country’s full respect for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Republic of Cyprus, as well as the relevant Resolutions of the United Nations Security Council. She thanked Nicosia for its support for the European course of North Macedonia and wished the new Ambassador of the Republic of Cyprus every success.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results. The lat
est round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana, ended inconclusively. Guterres last January appointed Holguin as his personal envoy for Cyprus, to assume a Good Offices role on his behalf and search for common ground on the way forward in the Cyprus issue.