The invitation extended by the US president to President Nikos Christodoulides for Cyprus’ participation in the Gaza Peace Council does not entail any financial obligations or payments by the Republic of Cyprus, government spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis said on Saturday.
In a statement to the Cyprus News Agency (CNA), Letymbiotis said the President of the Republic received an official letter of invitation from the White House for Cyprus to participate in the Gaza Peace Council, noting that the invitation explicitly recognises Cyprus’ role in the Middle East.
“Whether some consider this development ordinary or insignificant is a matter of their own judgement and political perception of our country’s international standing,” he said.
No financial contribution required
Letymbiotis stressed that Cyprus has received the invitation and is evaluating it “with seriousness, institutional responsibility and full awareness of its role and capabilities,” adding that an official position will be communicated once the assessment process is completed.
He rejected claims circulating about alleged financial obligations, saying they do not reflect the reality of the invitation extended to Cyprus.
“The invitation αφορά participation as a member for a three-year period, with the possibility of renewal following a new invitation, and under no circumstances does it entail financial obligations or the payment of any amount by the Republic of Cyprus,” he said.
Clarifying reports on alternative arrangements
Addressing related reports, Letymbiotis said these refer to potential alternative legal arrangements or options for permanent legal status that may be examined only by states that wish to do so.
“They are neither directly nor indirectly related to the invitation received by our country. Any attempt to link Cyprus to such claims is unfounded and misleading,” he added.
Earlier, the White House had announced the first members of the so-called Peace Council, while Bloomberg reported that states seeking permanent status could face a cost of $1 billion.
Recognition of Cyprus’ regional role
The government spokesperson underlined that the invitation itself constitutes explicit recognition of Cyprus’ role in the wider Middle East, carrying particular political weight when it comes from the United States.
“This confirms the steady upgrading of our country’s international standing as a reliable, stable and responsible actor for peace and cooperation,” he said.
He added that Cyprus approaches such initiatives on the basis of its capacity to make a substantive contribution to stability and peace efforts, citing its participation in the international conference on Gaza in Egypt, where it submitted concrete and realistic proposals on how it could support the implementation of the 20-point peace plan.
Assessment under way
Letymbiotis concluded that the evaluation of the proposal is already under way and that Cyprus’ response will be based exclusively on political, institutional and national criteria.
“It will be free of speculation and rigid narratives aimed at discrediting an initiative that, in essence, constitutes recognition of Cyprus’ role and credibility in the international system, particularly in the geopolitically sensitive region of the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East,” he said.
Source: CNA