Christodoulides: Ready to Resume Cyprus Talks Even Tomorrow

Speaking at an annual event marking the 46th anniversary of the so-called “anti-occupation” gathering organised by the self-proclaimed Municipality of Morphou, he said he was willing to make concessions on certain issues if they served the goal of reaching a lasting and fair settlement. The event was held in Astromeritis, where self-proclaimed “Morphou Mayor” Viktoras Hajiavraam also addressed the gathering.

The newspaper Fileleftheros reported on Christodoulides’ speech at the event.

Christodoulides: “I Am Ready to Sit at the Negotiating Table Even Tomorrow”

Christodoulides reiterated that he was ready to return to the negotiating table on the Cyprus problem even tomorrow. Saying he was not seeking temporary or tactical moves, he stated that he was prepared to make concessions on certain issues, provided they served the objective of achieving a lasting and fair solution to the Cyprus problem.

Thanking those who attended the event, particularly participants who had travelled from abroad, Christodoulides said a strong message had been sent in every direction. He claimed the message was that they did not accept the “occupation” and would not abandon their efforts to reunify the country and secure its independence.

Christodoulides said that since taking office, he had worked intensively to overcome the deadlock and create the conditions necessary for negotiations to resume. Addressing the gathering, he said he sincerely remained ready to begin negotiations and dialogue even the following day.

Despite the difficulties and challenges, as well as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s remarks at the United Nations General Assembly advocating a two-state solution, Christodoulides said he remained committed to restarting negotiations.

He pointed to several developments that he considered significant: the recording of convergences between the parties, the UN’s reaffirmation of the framework for a settlement, the UN Secretary-General’s efforts to exhaust all possibilities for negotiations before leaving office, the clear position of the UN Security Council, and support from EU member states and institutions.

Christodoulides argued that these developments supported his optimism that a settlement was possible.

“If I did not believe that a solution to the Cyprus problem was possible, I would not be dealing with it every day,” he said.

Hajiavraam: “Our Hope of Returning to Morphou Remains Alive”

In his address, self-proclaimed “Morphou Mayor” Viktoras Hajiavraam said hopes of returning to Morphou remained alive.

He greeted Greek Cypriots originally from Morphou who attended the event, as well as parliamentary representatives from Greece, the United Kingdom and Slovenia. He also thanked representatives of the sister municipalities of Żurrieq in Malta, Barnet in the UK and Saint-Cyr-sur-Loire in France, along with representatives of sister cities in Greece.

Commenting on the Cyprus problem, Hajiavraam said he was aware of the difficulties and of what he described as the “intransigent positions” expressed by the Turkish side and the Turkish Cypriot leadership.

He also welcomed UN Secretary-General António Guterres’s recent visit to Cyprus, during which he held separate meetings with the leaders, and the European Commission’s appointment of a special representative for the Cyprus problem, describing both as positive developments.