Cyprus’ heroes define duty to end the Turkish occupation, President says

20-07-2026 10:39

The heroes who gave their lives during the 1974 Turkish invasion define the duty and responsibility of today’s leadership to do everything possible to end the Turkish occupation, President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, said on Monday, after attending a memorial service at the Tomb of Makedonitissa, in Nicosia, for officers and soldiers who fell during the invasion.

Referring to the upcoming visit of United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres to Cyprus, the President said the objective is to convene an expanded conference at which the resumption of negotiations from the point where they were suspended would be announced.

“Today is a difficult day and certainly not one for many words,” Christodoulides said. “What I would like to say is that our heroes here at the Tomb of Makedonitissa, and wherever they rest across Cyprus, in the occupied areas, in every part of free and occupied Cyprus, define the duty and responsibility of all of us who are currently entrusted with the leadership of this country to do everything possible to end the Turkish occupation, liberate our homeland and reunite our country,” he noted,

He added that “this will be the true memorial to all those who sacrificed themselves so that we may exist today. Towards that goal, we are working systematically on the basis of a very specific plan and strategy in order to achieve our number one priority: ending the occupation, liberating and reunifying our homeland”.

Asked whether an expanded five-party conference was expected at the end of August or the beginning of September, the President said that “the objective is certainly to determine the date and convene an expanded conference during which the resumption of negotiations from where they were interrupted will be announced.”

“We are ready on our side, we have conveyed our readiness to the Secretary-General, and you understand that everything depends on Turkey’s response,” he said.

Ahead of Guterres’ visit, Christodoulides said consultations were continuing “both by the Secretary-General himself and by his Personal Envoy, as well as by the European Union, which is demonstrating through its actions a more active and leading role.”

“We hope that when the Secretary-General is here there will be positive announcements in the direction I have just described,” he added.

Asked whether he expected a different approach from Turkey this time, the President replied that “everyone will be judged by actions and not by statements.”

“I believe the Secretary-General launched a very important initiative in March 2026, based, as I have said many times, on discussions he had with the President of Turkey and the Turkish government, and we hope to see this reflected in practice,” he said.

The President also stressed that “it is certain that any positive developments in EU-Turkey relations that Turkey seeks will have to pass through concrete positive developments regarding the resolution of the Cyprus issue.”

“I am always speaking, so that there is absolutely no doubt, on the basis of the agreed framework, the principles, values and law of the European Union, without any constructive or otherwise ambiguities,” he said.

Asked whether pressure on Turkey had intensified, Christodoulides said this was “not a matter of pressure”.

“These are issues that were discussed primarily by the Secretary-General. My understanding is that his Personal Envoy will travel to Turkey before coming to Cyprus, and based on the outcome of all these efforts we will see what emerges from the Secretary-General’s visit,” he said.

He added that the Secretary-General’s presence in Cyprus was “certainly a positive development.”

“Just remember where we were in March 2023 when we assumed governance of the country, and where we are today through systematic work, persistence, planning and a clear strategy”, he said.

Asked whether the UN chief’s programme had been finalised, Christodoulides said Guterres himself would announce the details, adding that the government was aware of the broad outline of the visit.

“There will certainly be a joint meeting. The dates and times will be announced by the Secretary-General himself,” he said.

Responding to a question about the European Union’s special envoy for Cyprus, Raffaele Fitto, the President said he did not rule out the possibility of a visit to Cyprus depending on the envoy’s schedule.

“I repeat that we welcome this enhanced involvement by the European Union. It is something we pursued from the very first day we took office. The appointment of a serving Vice-President of the European Commission demonstrates the Commission President’s increased interest,” he said.

Christodoulides added that the EU’s role was crucial in two respects.

“The first concerns EU-Turkey relations, which I mentioned earlier. The second, and equally important, is the need for any future settlement of the Cyprus issue to be fully compatible with the EU acquis and with the principles and values of the European Union”, he said.

“The Republic of Cyprus is a member state and will remain one after any eventual settlement. Therefore, the European Union has a leading role to play,” he added.

Asked about reports that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan would not travel to the occupied north of Cyprus for events marking the anniversary of the 1974 invasion, Christodoulides said this “changes absolutely nothing”.

“Mr Erdogan will not come, someone else will represent him, perhaps the Vice-President of the Turkish government or a minister, I do not know at this stage. But this changes nothing regarding Turkey’s crime in Cyprus over the past 52 years,” the President concluded.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results due to Turkish intransigence. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively.

After informal meetings in 2025, followed by a hiatus of several months, deliberations are underway for a new meeting in broader format to be held, as the term of the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres nears its end. María Angela Holguín, Guterres’ Personal Envoy on Cyprus, is tasked to engage with the parties. Executive Vice-President Raffaele Fitto acts as the European Commission’s Special Representative for Cyprus, succeeding EU special envoy Johannes Hahn.

Source: Parikiaki.com