Nicosia, Cyprus. President Nikos Christodoulides said he would not become “the president of partition”, describing the continuation of the Republic of Cyprus as an “absolute red line”.
Speaking on Monday at a presidential palace event marking the 1974 coup d’état and Turkish invasion, he said a two-state solution or a disguised confederation was not under discussion.
Settlement parameters
Christodoulides said resolving the Cyprus problem was his “life mission” but added that he would not sign an agreement that was not functional, sustainable or capable of standing the test of time.
He said initiatives had been undertaken since his election to pursue a solution within the UN framework and based on the acquis communautaire.
1974 events
Referring to the events of July 15 and 20, 1974, Christodoulides said Turkey’s actions in Cyprus caused destruction and suffering, with thousands dead, displaced and missing.
He added that “justice cannot be derived from illegality.”
International engagement
Christodoulides said international interest in the Cyprus issue had been renewed following a seven-year stalemate that began in 2017, despite wars in Ukraine and the Middle East.
He referred to UN Secretary-General’s planned visit to Cyprus from July 27 to 29 and the appointment of European Commission executive vice-president Raffaele Fitto as special envoy for the Cyprus issue.
EU-Turkey relations
The president said progress in EU-Turkey relations was directly linked to substantive progress on the Cyprus issue.
He said a settlement beneficial to all parties could be reached if Ankara abandoned what he described as anachronistic notions incompatible with Cyprus as a European state and shared home for Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots.
