Christodoulides: We Have Convinced Everyone Who Seeks a Solution in Cyprus

Christodoulides asserted that throughout his tenure, he “convinced everyone who seeks a solution” and that “internationally, our country is recognized as a pillar of security and stability in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East.”

Haravgi cited Christodoulides’ remarks during a commemoration held yesterday at Kokkinotrimithia prison for the “Day of Remembrance for the Prisoners,” honoring EOKA members arrested during the British colonial period.

According to the report, Christodoulides claimed that in his 2.5 years in office, the Greek Cypriot side “persuaded everyone that it wants a solution, that its intentions are genuine, and that all parties celebrated the readiness to make substantive progress for negotiations to resume.”

Christodoulides added, “We can see our homeland free and reunited for all its lawful citizens,” and said, “With the hope of reaching the sacred day of our homeland’s liberation and reunification, we will continue our struggle with ambitious realism.”

He outlined his policy priorities as “continuous reform to modernize institutions, strengthening national defense and security, building a strong economy, preventing corruption, improving citizens’ daily lives, and effectively managing irregular migration.”

The same newspaper noted that UN Under-Secretary-General Jean-Pierre Lacroix, responsible for peace operations, appeared optimistic about developments following Tufan Erhürman’s election as TRNC President and anticipated further progress in Cyprus negotiations.

Speaking to European media at the UN office in Brussels, Lacroix told the Greek Cypriot News Agency that in response to questions on the Cyprus issue and the situation in Varosha after Tufan Erhürman’s election, he said, “Of course, we hope for progress. The Cyprus issue is a priority for Secretary-General Guterres, his Personal Representative Maria Angela Holguin, and the new UN Peacekeeping Force Chief in Cyprus.”

Lacroix also noted that despite cuts in UN funding, the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus can continue its duties. He explained that since part of the funding comes from the Republic of Cyprus and Greece, the impact of budget cuts on the operation’s effectiveness will be limited.