Press Releases

The President of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr Nikos Christodoulides, stated today that his message to the President of Republic of Turkey during their meeting, on the sidelines of the European Political Community (EPC) Summit, was clear and precise regarding the need for a solution to the Cyprus problem on the basis of the agreed framework.

In his remarks on the sidelines of the EPC Summit taking place in Budapest, the President of the Republic of Cyprus stated that the EPC Summit "is an important Summit that allows the 47 states from the European continent to discuss and exchange views. It goes beyond the framework of the 27 Member States of the European Union (EU).

After all, this was, in fact, the aim of the EAC; to provide an opportunity for the EU to engage with other countries across the European continent.

The issues we discussed were migration and economic development.

I wish to focus, in particular, on the issue of migration because it is now an issue that affects all the countries of the European continent. What I take from the discussions, and from the Special Session in which I had the opportunity to participate, is the need to find permanent solutions, which can only be found by addressing the causes of migration.

Furthermore, I would like to once again commend the fact that the issue of Syria is now being discussed openly by everyone. This was something we have been pursuing for a long time.

The fact that we are now discussing, together with the relevant competent international organisations, how to address the issue of Syria and how we, as the EU and the broader European continent, can help create the conditions in the country that will allow Syrian refugees to return to their homeland, I believe is a step in the right direction.

All of these discussions, held on the day after the elections in the United States of America (USA), have also had the element of a first reaction on the part of the European continent regarding the election of the American President, with whom we must cooperate in order to jointly address the challenges.

It is my belief that the challenges we have to face in general at the international level, but also domestically, can be efficiently addressed through the strengthening of the Transatlantic Cooperation. This is something that we as the Republic of Cyprus not only support, but we have also proceeded with some specific suggestions from the outset on how we should approach the new American President in order to further strengthen our cooperation".

Asked about his meeting with the President of the Republic of Turkey, Mr Tayyip Erdoğan, on the sidelines of the EPC Summit, the President of the Republic of Cyprus said: "In the framework of my presence here, I had the opportunity to discuss with many foreign leaders and, in this context, I had the opportunity to exchange views with the Turkish President, as well as the Turkish Foreign Minister. My message on both occasions was clear and precise: the need for a solution to the Cyprus problem on the basis of the agreed framework.

I have expressed our readiness as the Republic of Cyprus to facilitate the strengthening of Euro-Turkish relations, alongside solid and substantial progress towards a solution to the Cyprus problem, always on the basis of the agreed framework.

I listened to Mr. Erdoğan's intervention (during the proceedings of the EPC Summit). I was present during his intervention. He did not mention the Cyprus problem; he referred to a number of issues relating to challenges faced by Turkey and, at the same time, he also expressed Turkey's desire to come closer to the EU and to European organisations. He mentioned, for example, in specific the European Defence Agency. All of these –and this was the message I conveyed– need to go through the solution of the Cyprus problem on the basis of the agreed framework, and we should not be afraid –I mentioned this specifically– of dialogue and discussion.

I believe that this exchange of views –we did not go into substantive issues, you understand– helps towards achieving our goal, which is none other than the resumption of substantial negotiations, I reiterate –because I have mentioned this many times to the Turkish President, as well as the Turkish Foreign Minister– on the basis of the agreed framework. Anything that strays from that framework, from the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolutions, cannot even be discussed. I said that this is also the clear position of the EU, a position that I am certain will be conveyed by other European leaders to the Turkish President. I am aware of this because we had discussions about this, that he was going to meet with the President of the European Commission and the French President, and one of the issues that I asked to be conveyed to the Turkish President is that progress in Euro-Turkish relations go through substantial developments on the Cyprus problem on the basis of the agreed framework".

In response to a question on his bilateral meeting with the President of the Swiss Confederation, Ms Viola Amherd, President Christodoulides said: "Over the years, since 1976, Switzerland, with one exception which was Austria, has hosted the talks, the processes for the solution of the Cyprus problem. [The Swiss President] has once again expressed readiness to host, if and when the UN Secretary-General deems it necessary.

Moreover, in addition to bilateral relations, our meeting focused mainly on issues related to specific sectors, in particular education, research and innovation, on the new dialogue that has been launched between the EU and Switzerland, a dialogue which, with the Republic of Cyprus assuming the Presidency of the Council of the EU in the first half of 2026, will also be one of the issues that will be of concern to us".

(AP/GS)