President ready for talks with Tatar
President Nikos Christodoulides expressed his readiness to meet with Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar, emphasising that preparations are underway for a broader conference on the Cyprus issue. Speaking after the Epiphany celebrations at Ayia
President Nikos Christodoulides expressed his readiness to meet with Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar, emphasising that preparations are underway for a broader conference on the Cyprus issue. Speaking after the Epiphany celebrations at Ayia Napa harbour, the president reiterated his commitment to achieving significant progress.
“We are fully prepared for a meeting with Mr Tatar. At the same time, we have started preparing for an expanded Cyprus conference, which, as I have been informed, could take place in March,” President Christodoulides said. However, he noted that there is no official confirmation from the United Nations as of yet.
Christodoulides highlighted the urgency of resuming negotiations to resolve the Cyprus problem, stating, “The passage of time does not help; it creates new faits accomplis, which we witness daily. Our initiatives have brought renewed momentum to the Cyprus issue, and I hope that by spring, we can restart substantive talks from where they left off.”
When asked about celebrating Epiphany in a divided homeland, the president expressed hope for reunification: “Let us hope that in 2025, we celebrate Epiphany in free Famagusta. We will do everything possible to achieve this goal.”
Addressing reports from the Turkish press about Turkey’s potential maritime boundary agreements with Syria and Lebanon, the President urged caution, saying, “We must be very careful about what is written, especially in the Turkish press. This is an issue of concern and was raised by both me and (Greek Prime Minister) Kyriakos Mitsotakis at the European Council.”
The president stressed the importance of “discreet” diplomacy, particularly regarding illegal actions like Turkey’s previous agreement with Libya. “Away from the spotlight, we are taking all necessary steps to prevent any unlawful actions,” he added.
When asked about the possibility of demarcating the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) between Greece and Cyprus, President Christodoulides responded cautiously: “The less we say publicly, the better.”
The president’s remarks came during a day of national unity and hope, as he attended the Divine Liturgy at Ayia Napa’s Church of Panayia and the blessing of the waters at the harbour, celebrating the Epiphany. He called for optimism and collective effort to overcome the challenges facing Cyprus.
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