Nicosia, Cyprus. The new Italian ambassador to Cyprus said a settlement of the Cyprus problem would bring stability and development to the island and the wider Levant as she presented her credentials to President Nikos Christodoulides on Friday.
Credentials presentation and Cyprus talks
Speaking at the Presidential Palace, Ambassador Antonella Cavallari stressed Italy’s firm support for a comprehensive solution in line with the United Nations framework and EU principles.
Cavallari said a bi-communal, bi-zonal federation that reunites Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots under the same nation would bring stability and development to the entire region. She added that Italy hopes negotiations will soon resume and lead to a long-awaited settlement.
She said Italy, as a close friend of Cyprus and a member of the EU and the UN, is ready to support efforts to find a comprehensive, mutually acceptable, just and sustainable solution based on the UN framework and relevant Security Council resolutions.
President’s response and planned Rome visit
Christodoulides expressed appreciation for Italy’s consistent and principled support for a solution grounded in UN resolutions and European law.
He said he would soon pay an official visit to Rome, describing bilateral relations as entering a particularly dynamic phase. He said he looked forward to further consolidating dialogue and that the visit would be an opportunity to advance common goals.
Security, defence, energy and connectivity
Security and defence cooperation featured prominently, with Christodoulides saying joint exercises and regional coordination reflect a shared commitment to stability in the Eastern Mediterranean.
He also highlighted energy and connectivity as strategic pillars of cooperation, citing the development of natural gas resources in Cyprus’ exclusive economic zone with Italian participation. He said the development of natural gas resources, with the active participation of Italian stakeholders, is part of a broader effort to enhance Europe’s energy diversification, resilience and strategic autonomy, referring to recent agreements on Block 6 as evidence of tangible progress.
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