Letymbiotis: Citizenship for Children of Mixed Marriages Is Not a CBM

Letymbiotis said citizenship applications by children born of mixed marriages were being assessed based on existing criteria, noting that the examination of such applications had resumed in 2024 under the current administration.

Speaking after Wednesday’s meeting of the Greek Cypriot National Council, Letymbiotis commented on issues raised by President Tufan Erhürman and reportedly identified by UN Secretary-General António Guterres as areas where progress was sought.

“CITIZENSHIP CANNOT BE CONSIDERED A CONFIDENCE-BUILDING MEASURE”

Addressing the issue of citizenship for children born of mixed marriages, Letymbiotis argued that the matter was linked to fundamental legal provisions and the Republic of Cyprus’ status as an EU member.

“We have repeatedly explained that the citizenship issue cannot be considered a confidence-building measure. This issue is based on fundamental legal provisions and, of course, also concerns our status as a member of the European Union,” Letymbiotis said.

He said citizenship applications from children of mixed marriages were being examined on the basis of existing criteria, adding that the examination of such applications had resumed in 2024 under the current administration.

CROSSING POINTS AND MINE CLEARANCE

Letymbiotis said other issues raised by Erhürman included crossing points, mine clearance, sports, a joint mechanism for responding to natural disasters and the establishment of a joint mechanism to combat irregular migration.

Regarding crossing points, Letymbiotis said Guterres had presented a “compromise proposal” during his visit to the island in July. He claimed that the Greek Cypriot side had accepted the proposal but that “the other side” had not.

On mine clearance, Letymbiotis said the Greek Cypriot side had submitted a proposal last April concerning areas identified by the United Nations, claiming that the Turkish Cypriot side had “neither accepted nor discussed” the proposal.

JOINT MECHANISM FOR NATURAL DISASTERS

Letymbiotis said the establishment of a joint mechanism for responding to natural disasters had also been discussed during talks held in New York last week.

He said the meeting, attended by Greek Cypriot negotiator Menelaos Menelaou, Erhürman’s Undersecretary Mehmet Dana, UN Secretary-General’s Personal Representative for Cyprus Maria Angela Holguín and UN Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo, included discussion of the idea of establishing a technical committee on natural disasters.

Letymbiotis said the Greek Cypriot side had agreed to the establishment of such a committee, while claiming that the Turkish Cypriot side had expressed reservations.

REFERRED TO 2013 FOOTBALL AGREEMENT

Addressing the sports issue, Letymbiotis referred to the 2013 agreement between the Cyprus Turkish Football Association (CTFA) and the Cyprus Football Association (CFA).

He said the agreement provided a formula aimed at securing international recognition for Turkish Cypriot football, but added that it had not been implemented because of disagreements over procedures.

Letymbiotis also referred to the bicommunal amateur football match held in Nicosia on September 19, announcing that another match would be organized in October.

“WE INSIST ON WHAT HAS ALREADY BEEN AGREED”

Letymbiotis said the Greek Cypriot side remained committed to issues it considered to have already been agreed upon, describing its positions as public, documented, clearly stated, consistent and unchanged.

He said the 19 proposals presented by President Nikos Christodoulides during his most recent meeting with President Tufan Erhürman before their departure for New York were also part of this approach.

Claiming that the current deadlock in the Cyprus problem was “not a neutral situation,” Letymbiotis argued that it resulted in the continuation of the status quo.

He said the Greek Cypriot side would continue its efforts to find a solution to the Cyprus problem, adding that there was “no luxury of inaction.”

GUTERRES’ TERM AS UN SECRETARY-GENERAL

Asked about the end of UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ term and the selection of a new secretary-general, Letymbiotis said the Greek Cypriot side had some thoughts on the matter but that the process had not yet reached that stage.

Letymbiotis said Guterres had aimed during his July visit to the island to achieve tangible progress on the Cyprus problem before the end of his term.

He added that the UN secretary-general’s mandate and authority derived from UN Security Council resolutions, which, he argued, define the agreed framework concerning the Cyprus problem.