Christodoulides to Erhurman: ‘The Republic of Cyprus’ Will Continue Signing International Agreements

According to Fileleftheros newspaper, Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Christodoulides replied to Erhurman regarding the international agreements signed by South Cyprus.

Under the headline “The Republic of Cyprus Will Continue Signing Agreements – Sharp Response from Nikos Christodoulides to Tufan Erhurman on International Agreements,” the newspaper wrote that Christodoulides sent a message to Erhurman that “the Republic of Cyprus would not stop functioning as a state and that there is no question of him ceasing to sign international agreements.”

The newspaper also noted that Christodoulides “firmly but clearly reminded” Erhurman that the Republic of Cyprus is a member state of both the EU and the UN.

The report also said that Erhurman had recently repeated his complaint in the TRNC that the Greek Cypriot administration was signing military agreements with regional states without the consent of Turkish Cypriots.

‘The Republic of Cyprus Is an EU and UN Member State, We Will Continue Signing Agreements’

The newspaper stated that Christodoulides made it clear in his remarks that he would continue signing international agreements, adding that he also pointed out he participates in negotiations under two different capacities: on the one hand as the leader of the Greek Cypriot side, and on the other as the “President of the Republic of Cyprus,” particularly on issues related to guarantees.

Beyond that, Christodoulides reiterated that the “Republic of Cyprus” is an EU and UN member state and would continue signing agreements. He argued that these agreements underline the international status of the “Republic of Cyprus” while also helping address the challenges they face.

Cyprus Issue and Possible Progress in July Also Discussed

The newspaper also wrote that Turkish Cypriot leader Erhurman had recently repeated that a new effort by the UN Secretary-General on the Cyprus issue would begin from July.

Christodoulides, however, said that this initiative had already started following the UN Secretary-General’s meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Turkey and immediately after their own meeting with the UN Secretary-General in Brussels in March.

Christodoulides also claimed that he had raised this before Erhurman made any public remarks on the matter.

He further argued that the UN Secretary-General had already begun working on the substance of the Cyprus issue and that the Greek Cypriot side was ready to respond immediately. He said he had heard comments linking the process to the elections in South Cyprus and the EU Council presidency, but stressed that there was absolutely no connection between them.

Christodoulides said that if the UN Secretary-General were to invite them even next week and decide that his initiative had reached a mature stage, they would be ready to respond.

The report added that everything pointed to movement on the Cyprus issue beginning from July, while, based on Christodoulides’ remarks, it was claimed that the Turkish side was trying to confirm its argument — also conveyed to UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy on Cyprus Maria Angela Holguin — that South Cyprus’ EU Council presidency and parliamentary elections were obstacles to the process.

The newspaper further claimed, based on Christodoulides’ statements, that all of this formed part of a time-gaining tactic by the Turkish side.

Haravgi newspaper, under the headline “President Christodoulides Ready to Respond to the UN Secretary-General’s Initiative,” reported that Christodoulides said yesterday that the UN Secretary-General’s initiative on the Cyprus issue had already begun and that Guterres was working on the core of the Cyprus problem.

The newspaper cited remarks Christodoulides made upon arriving at the annual general assembly of the Greek Cypriot Employers and Industrialists Federation (OEV), where he said the UN initiative was not merely an intention and that significant work on the fundamental aspects of the issue had already been put into practice.

According to the newspaper, Christodoulides argued that this process had been set in motion following critical contacts both with the Turkish leadership and within European institutions. He also referred to the UN Secretary-General’s meeting with Erdoğan, as well as his own meeting with Guterres in Brussels in March.

Meanwhile, Alithia, under the headline “Game of Blame Without Reason,” wrote on its front page and inside pages that the Cyprus issue had entered the stage of Guterres’ initiative, while the Greek Cypriot presidency was presenting narratives about responsibility.

The newspaper said that although the UN Secretary-General had already launched a process for July regarding Cyprus, the Greek Cypriot side, while saying it was ready, was already shifting responsibility onto the Turkish side.

Referring to articles written by Holguin on the Cyprus issue and noting contradictions in the presidency’s attitude toward her, the newspaper added that there was a risk that the Cyprus issue could once again turn into a matter of communication management rather than substantive negotiations.