President Nikos Christodoulides will meet the UN Secretary‑General in Brussels next Wednesday, on March 18, according to Government Spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis.
Speaking during a media briefing at the Presidential Palace on Thursday, Letymbiotis noted the President will meet UNSG António Guterres on the sidelines of his trip to Brussels to attend the European Council Summit on March 19-20.
Christodoulides had asked for the meeting in a letter sent to Guterres, coming on the back of the UNSG’s meeting 70-minute with Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhürman last month.
Letymbiotis said the meeting reflects the President’s clear and steady political will to restart negotiations on the Cyprus issue while also confirming the Secretary-General’s interest at a time of heightened geopolitical developments.
He added that the Greek Cypriot side’s readiness to resume the process from the point where talks were interrupted in 2017 at Crans‑Montana is a given, based on a bizonal, bicommunal federation with political equality, as defined in relevant UN resolutions and with full respect for the acquis of the previous negotiating process.
‘5+1’ could help achieve progress
Letymbiotis said the government maintains that convening an expanded meeting with the participation of the three guarantor powers under the Secretary‑General could be decisive in achieving real progress. “We declare our readiness to attend such a conference, so that all aspects of the Cyprus issue can be discussed and the conditions created for a genuine restart of the negotiations.”
He stressed that the message is clear: the government has the political will and readiness, and time must not act to the detriment of the effort. Initiatives are needed to maintain momentum and create prospects for substantive progress.
Meeing with Von der Leyen
While in Brussels, the President will also meet European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Their discussions will focus on regional developments and a review of the close cooperation and continuous communication maintained between the two, within the framework of the EU’s practical and meaningful support for the Republic of Cyprus.
Impact on tourism
Asked whether the government bears responsibility for the impact on tourism and Cyprus’ image abroad – given the contradictions between statements by the UK Defence Secretary and the Cypriot government, Letymbiotis referred to the President’s “very productive” meeting with tourism stakeholders on Wednesday.
On the UK Defence Secretary’s statements on March 8, before the drone strike at RAF Akrotiri, they had not been confirmed, nor was there any such information, he said. “The two incidents – the reference by the UK Defence Secretary and the event that took place the same evening at the British Bases in Akrotiri – are two entirely different matters.”
Cyprus is operating amid an unprecedented regional crisis, he said, adding: “The Republic of Cyprus, like any state, must take all precautionary measures to ensure the safety of the country and its citizens. Our European partners have supported and responded from the very first moment, and we again express our gratitude and satisfaction for their timely assistance.”
‘Foreign media exaggerating picture’
Letymbiotis pointed the finger at international media for largely presenting an exaggerated picture of the situation in Cyprus. “As you know very well, normality continues in our country. The flight schedules of the majority of airlines have been restored. Cyprus remains an attractive tourist destination. All measures taken are precautionary.”
He called on media to portray “the true image” of Cyprus – “that of an EU member state where normality continues, and where the measures taken are those any state in this region must take during a regional crisis, without exaggerations or inaccurate reports.”
Reminded that President Nikos Christodoulides made statements earlier this week alongside French President Emmanuel Macron and Greek Prime Minister Kyriacos Mitsotakis with a military helicopter as the backdrop, the spokesman said: “A meeting held at an air base, precisely to assess the level of coordination of these precautionary measures, naturally takes place at the location where such operations occur.”
Importance of having a ‘normal state’
Asked what to expect from the President’s meeting with Guterres, Letymbiotis said regional developments give even greater weight to the significance of the Secretary‑General’s commitment to holding this meeting.
He said this underscores the importance of a state in this region that can bolster and contribute decisively to regional security and stability – highlighting why the Republic of Cyprus must function as a normal state whose citizens enjoy the same fundamental rights as other Europeans. He added that the international community recognises the value of a modern European state without outdated guarantee systems, and which can contribute even more through its diplomatic capacity in a region filled with prolonged challenges.
Fuel price cap
Asked whether the government is considering imposing a fuel price cap, as done in other EU countries, the spokesman said the government’s economic team is evaluating all data, which will depend on rapidly evolving developments, and announcements will be made at the appropriate time.