President Nicos Christodoulides has rejected suggestions that efforts to restart Cyprus negotiations have reached a deadlock, saying the process remains active despite continuing difficulties.
Responding to reports and assessments pointing to stagnation following contacts in New York, Christodoulides said he would first brief members of the National Council on Wednesday before making further public statements.
UN remains committed to renewed talks
“I don’t know where they get their information from. We are certainly not at a deadlock,” Christodoulides said.
He said the UN Secretary-General remained fully committed to efforts to resume negotiations.
“We have a Secretary-General who is absolutely committed to the resumption of talks and is working in that direction,” he said.
Christodoulides said the Greek Cypriot side was supporting those efforts through specific proposals concerning both the methodology and substance of the Cyprus issue, as well as confidence-building measures.
According to the president, the ideas and proposals put forward by the Greek Cypriot side have received a positive response from the UN Secretary-General.
Two-state position remains central obstacle
Christodoulides acknowledged that significant difficulties remain, identifying the Turkish side’s position in favour of a two-state solution as the principal problem.
“Where there is an issue, because I am not trying to embellish the situation, is the Turkish side’s position for a two-state solution,” he said.
Nevertheless, he insisted that “under no circumstances are we at a deadlock”, reiterating that the government continues working towards the reunification of Cyprus.
Holguín expected in Cyprus in October
Turning to the next steps, Christodoulides said UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy María Ángela Holguín is expected to visit Cyprus in October.
He also said European envoy Johannes Hahn was particularly active in relation to Turkey, while further contacts and meetings between the European Union and Ankara were expected.
“We are moving in the direction of resuming talks, without overlooking the difficulties and problems centred on the Turkish side’s insistence on a two-state solution,” he said.
President declines comment on Cyprus Forum withdrawals
Asked about withdrawals from the Cyprus Forum, Christodoulides declined to comment.
“I have nothing to comment on. The organisers should comment,” he said.
He nevertheless described the Cyprus Forum as a particularly successful platform for public dialogue.
“We operate within the framework of social liberalism, we are free people, and we favour and want public dialogue,” he said, adding that the forum contributes substantially to exchanging views between figures from Cyprus and abroad.
‘Too early’ for 2028 presidential race
Asked about developments within DISY and the 2028 presidential election more broadly, Christodoulides said he considered the start of campaigning premature.
“We are in September 2026 and the presidential elections are in February 2028,” he said.
The president said he respected the right of every citizen or political group to begin preparing for the election, but stressed that his priority remained addressing the serious challenges facing the country.
“We have very serious challenges before us to which the executive must provide solutions, and that is our priority, together with the legislative branch,” he said.
