President Nikos Christodoulides is heading to New York for a packed programme of diplomatic meetings during the 81st United Nations General Assembly, including talks with UN Secretary-General António Guterres and his Personal Envoy on Cyprus, María Ángela Holguín.
Christodoulides will also meet heads of state and government, senior international officials and executives from multinational energy companies during his stay.
Before travelling to New York, the president will visit Athens on Friday afternoon to address an event organised by the Cyprus Union of Shipowners.
Cyprus issue contacts begin on Sunday
Christodoulides' New York programme will begin on the evening of Sunday, 20 September, with a meeting with leaders of Cypriot diaspora organisations focusing on developments in the Cyprus issue.
On Monday, 21 September, at 1.15pm New York time, he will meet King Abdullah II of Jordan.
Later that day, he will participate in a summit co-hosted by European Council President António Costa and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, focusing on multilateralism, international law, peace and prosperity.
Meeting with Holguín on Tuesday
On Tuesday, 22 September, Christodoulides will attend the opening of the UN General Assembly plenary, during which Guterres will present his annual report.
Later that afternoon, he will meet Javier La Rosa, president of Base Assets and Emerging Countries at Chevron.
At 6pm New York time, Christodoulides will hold talks with Holguín, with the Cyprus issue expected to be at the centre of discussions.
UN address on 23 September
Christodoulides is scheduled to address the UN General Assembly at approximately 12.30pm New York time on Wednesday, 23 September.
Later, he will participate in a high-level summit convened by Guterres on climate change, where he is also expected to make an intervention.
The president will then meet ExxonMobil Vice-President John Ardill later that afternoon.
Guterres meeting on Thursday
On the morning of Thursday, 24 September, Christodoulides will attend a working breakfast organised by Antenna Group and the Atlantic Council under the theme "Consolidating EU-Gulf Cooperation for Regional Security and Prosperity".
At 10.55am New York time, he will meet Guterres.
Christodoulides will subsequently host a lunch for the permanent representatives of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council.
China and AJC meetings
On the morning of Friday, 25 September, the president will meet Chinese Vice-President Han Zheng, followed by talks with representatives of the American Jewish Committee (AJC).
Before leaving New York, Christodoulides will attend a dinner held in his honour by Cypriot diaspora organisations.
Return to Cyprus on 26 September
The president will be accompanied by Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos, Government Spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis and Greek Cypriot negotiator Menelaos Menelaou.
Christodoulides is expected to return to Cyprus on the evening of 26 September.
Source: CNA
