Nicosia, Cyprus. President Nikos Christodoulides said on Wednesday he remains “cautiously optimistic” about prospects for restarting Cyprus talks and announced new support measures to address the impact of the regional crisis will be unveiled on Thursday.
Prospects for resuming Cyprus talks
Speaking to reporters after the March 25 parade outside the Greek embassy in Nicosia, Christodoulides said the government continues its efforts for the “liberation and reunification” of Cyprus, drawing on the lessons of the 1821 Greek War of Independence.
He referred to his recent meeting with the United Nations secretary-general in Brussels, highlighting the UN chief’s “clear political will” and a roadmap for moving forward.
“I hope there will be a positive response from the Turkish side so that this intention can be translated into a concrete initiative leading to the resumption of talks from where they left off, with the aim of resolving the Cyprus problem on the basis of the agreed framework,” he said.
New measures to mitigate regional crisis impact
Christodoulides said he will address the public on Thursday to present a package of targeted measures aimed at mitigating the effects of the ongoing regional crisis.
“These will be specific, highly targeted measures affecting many sectors of the economy,” he said, adding that the government is in a position to introduce new support thanks to what he described as responsible fiscal management.
He said measures exceeding €100 million are already in place and that current economic stability allows the government to respond effectively.
“We have prepared a package that touches on many sectors, and we will proceed with specific announcements tomorrow,” he said, adding that contingency plans are also ready depending on how the situation evolves.
Government planning on the British bases
On the issue of the British bases in Cyprus, Christodoulides said the government is proceeding with a clear plan, though he declined to disclose details.
“We are a government that proves in practice that when we act, we do so with planning and a clear objective,” he said, adding that London had been informed from the outset and that the national council had also been briefed.
What do you think could determine whether talks resume from where they left off?
