The flight carrying the President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, and the Greek Cypriot delegation to Geneva, where the informal conference on the Cyprus problem will take place on 17 and 18 March, departed on Sunday afternoon.

Also on the flight are the former President of the Republic, Nicos Anastasiades, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Constantinos Kombos, the Deputy Minister for European Affairs, Marilena Raouna, political leaders – members of the National Council and associates of the President, among others.

Speaking earlier on Sunday at the annual memorial service of Theofilos Georgiades, President Christodoulides said that every opportunity will be used to create the conditions for the resumption of dialogue on the Cyprus problem, expressing the expectation that the informal expanded meeting will mark the continuation of the initiative in this direction.

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. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres announced an expanded meeting, in Geneva, on March 17 and 18, to exchange views with the Cyprus President and the Turkish Cypriot leader on ways of achieving progress on the Cyprus issue, following their informal dinner on October 15, 2024, in New York. Representatives from Greece, Turkey and the UK are also expected to attend the meeting.

Source: Parikiaki.com