President Nikos Christodoulides on Saturday clarified that his recent call for the withdrawal of Turkish troops and the abolition of guarantees was not a response to the four points raised by Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhürman, but a repetition of the Greek Cypriot side’s long-standing position.
Speaking at the opening of the '70 Years of EOKA 1955–1959' exhibition in Nicosia, the President said his remarks were entirely consistent with the established policy of the Republic, whose EU membership makes the issue “even more topical”.
“My statement on ending outdated guarantees and on the departure of Turkish forces was not an answer to what the Turkish Cypriot leader put forward,” he said. “It was a restatement of our long-held position.”
'We agreed to no public statements'
Erhürman on Friday wrote in a social-media post that during his meeting with Christodoulides the previous day, the two had agreed not to make public statements to the media regarding the Cyprus problem. He added that on Friday President Christodoulides stated that a solution to the Cyprus problem is only possible through the lifting of guarantees and the withdrawal of Turkish troops.
According to Erhürman, President Christodoulides described his four-point methodological proposal as a “precondition”.
“It is not a precondition at all,” Erhürman said. “But with this statement of his, he presented a ‘pre-required condition’ that he knows will be impossible to accept.”
“It is unreasonable for Mr Christodoulides - who has signed, without the consent of the Turkish Cypriot people, one of the two equal co-founding communities with sovereign rights on this island, numerous military agreements with states that do not hold guarantor-country status - to attempt to impose such a condition on this issue,” the Turkish Cypriot leader added.
'Christodoulides' statement is invalid'
“I said that what is needed on this island is an atmosphere conducive to a solution. I said, and I repeat, that Mr Christodoulides and I have much to do on this matter. I am completely sincere about this. Therefore, at this stage, I will limit myself to the following: the statement by Christodoulides that I referred to above is invalid for me,” he concluded.
Christodoulides stressed that the European Union remains “the best safeguard” both for implementing a future settlement and for ensuring lasting peace on the island.
He reiterated that all issues must be negotiated “from where talks left off in Crans-Montana”, adding that the government is ready to return to the table immediately. “The current status quo cannot be the solution,” he said, insisting on a constructive approach.
‘Respect for everyone’s history’
Marking the 70th anniversary of the EOKA struggle, Christodoulides linked historical awareness to the wider effort to resolve the Cyprus problem. He said the struggle remains central to the identity and diplomatic standing of the Republic of Cyprus and praised the Press and Information Office for organising the exhibition.
He emphasised that educating younger generations about the EOKA period is essential and insisted that acknowledging history does not obstruct efforts for a settlement.
“A sustainable solution will come through respect and recognition of each other’s history - not through self-erasure,” he said.
The President added that the exhibition should travel across all government-controlled areas to ensure children throughout Cyprus are informed.