The President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, stressed on Friday that a reunified Cyprus will play an even more significant role in the Eastern Mediterranean and the wider Middle East region, during a dinner hosted in his honor, in New York, by the Federation of Cypriot Organizations of America. The dinner marked the conclusion of his visit to the United States.
In his speech, President Christodoulides reflected on the somber anniversary of 50 years since the illegal Turkish invasion of Cyprus, highlighting that “despite repeated efforts over the last 50 years, our homeland, an EU member state, remains divided, with thousands of displaced persons, missing individuals, and Turkish occupation forces.” He noted that the 1974 Turkish invasion and the ongoing occupation continue to shape the trajectory of the country and the personal lives of every Cypriot, both in Cyprus and abroad.
“On this sad 50th anniversary, more than half a century after the dark summer of 1974, we must choose not to rem
ain in sadness and disappointment, but do much more to free our homeland, with greater persistence and determination,” said the President. He underscored that Cyprus remains under occupation and that the current unacceptable status quo cannot be considered a solution to the Cyprus problem or the future of the island. He also warned that the ongoing situation poses serious risks, noting that “there are no frozen conflicts.”
He also emphasized that from his first day in office, ending the deadlock in the Cyprus issue has been a top priority for his government. He reaffirmed his commitment to resolving the issue within the agreed framework, ensuring a single sovereignty, a single citizenship, and a single international personality, fully aligned with EU principles and values. He also expressed his readiness to proceed to a meeting at any time with a view to resume talks aimed at finding a solution.
Acknowledging the challenges and frustrations faced over the years, President Christodoulides stressed the import
ance of taking action to reunite the island. He expressed optimism about Cyprus’s future, and the belief that the prospects for the country will be significantly better with a reunified Cyprus. He also highlighted the role Cyprus could play in the Eastern Mediterranean and the broader Middle East as a reunified island, noting that “when Cyprus is reunified Cyprus, we will be able to play an even more important role in the Eastern Mediterranean and the wider Middle East region.”
Reflecting on Cyprus’s role on the global stage, he referred to the country’s initiative regarding for the establishment of a maritime humanitarian aid corridor from Cyprus to Gaza presented in November 2023 during the Paris summit. He noted that many doubted that a small country under occupation could lead such an initiative, but Cyprus had successfully implemented it. The President expressed pride in how Cyprus was positively recognized during meetings in New York, particularly by the UN Secretary-General.
President Christodoulides
also expressed his gratitude to the Cypriot diaspora for their unwavering support and commitment to Cyprus, despite being far from their homeland. He praised their enduring love for Cyprus and their efforts to keep the Cyprus issue alive, especially among younger generations.
Kyriakos Papastylianou, President of the Federation of Cypriot Organizations of America, Philip Christopher, President of PSEKA, and Archbishop Elpidophoros of America also addressed the event, during which Christodoulides presented the Federation’s ‘Justice for Cyprus’ award to AHEPA Supreme President Savvas Tsivikos and the ‘Philanthropic Award’ to George Logothetis, Executive Chairman of the Libra Group.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively.
Source: Cyprus News Agency