Since Sunday evening, we have all been reading a great deal about the electoral success of a young man who managed to secure one of the six seats in the European Parliament. Some have described it as a punishment for the political system, while others have called it a form of ‘revolution’ by the electorate. … Read more
Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev on Thursday made fresh statements in support of the north’s potential accession to the Organisation of Turkic States (OTS), going further than he had previously to support the north becoming a full member.He said his country is making “diplomatic efforts” for the north to become an observer member of the OTS, … Read more
Engaging voters in thinking through the difficult questions of the Cyprus problem could break the current deadlock and bring political leaders back to the negotiating table, according to a workshop organized by the Cyprus Peace and Dialogue Centre. The event focused on a “deliberative democracy” approach to update the peace process, with the goal of gaining public support for a sustainable solution. Panelists discussed options for assemblies, including citizen, elected, and constitutional assemblies, as well as the importance of starting with small “safe spaces” before moving on to larger assemblies. Despite the deadlock, only 20% of voters completely reject the idea of a bizonal bicommunal federation, indicating that engaging citizens could potentially help break the impasse.
The fact described in the text is that every time Cyprus faced isolated attempts for recognition of the illegal entity in the occupied part of Cyprus, the country always turned to the United States government for help, and the US always responded positively to avert the danger.
Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis will be in New York to discuss Greece’s participation in the UN Security Council and meet with counterparts from other countries also running for non-permanent member state seats. Greece is seeking its third membership in the security council for the period 2025-2026.
Government spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis stated that the state’s main concern is the resolution of the Cyprus problem. He mentioned that the UN Secretary General’s personal envoy for the Cyprus problem, Maria Angel Holguin, will have a one-to-one meeting with the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres to discuss efforts to resume talks. Letymbiotis emphasized the commitment to the resumption of talks based on a bizonal bicommunal federation with political equality. The timeline for Holguin’s efforts is decided by the UN Secretary General, and Letymbiotis expressed that they will not allow a ‘gravestone’ to be placed on the Cyprus problem.
Turkish Cypriots have lost confidence in the UN and Unficyp and do not consent to their presence in northern Cyprus. The funding for Unficyp in Cyprus is paid for by Cyprus and Greece, raising concerns about the impartiality of the UN forces in Cyprus. The UN could have asked the UK, Greece, and Turkey to contribute to the funding to avoid a conflict of interest. Without confidence in the UN, any proposals from them will be rejected.
Germany and Europe are preparing for two significant events: the European Parliament elections and the UEFA EURO 2024 football tournament in Germany. The German Ambassador to Cyprus expressed concern about the rise of right-wing parties in the elections and emphasized Germany’s support for a solution to the Cyprus issue based on UN resolutions. Germany aims to host EURO 2024 as a symbol of cohesion in Europe, promoting sustainability, diversity, and inclusion. Germany also advocates for a strong and united EU, despite facing challenges like Putin’s war in Ukraine. The 2004 enlargement of the EU serves as a lesson on the importance of unity and speaking with one voice in foreign policy. Germany’s proposals for EU decision-making reform aim to ensure the Union remains capable of action. Germany is committed to supporting Cyprus in finding a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus issue, emphasizing the importance of confidence-building between Greek-Cypriot and Turkish-Cypriot communities.
Former UN envoy to Cyprus Alexander Downer met with Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar to discuss the need for new and creative ideas around the Cyprus problem. Discussions on a federation have not yielded a solution, and negotiations on this basis have been exhausted. Tatar emphasized the importance of confirming sovereign equality and equal international status before official negotiations can begin.
– Cypriots have “no other choice” but to attempt to overturn the divided island’s status quo.
– The current state of affairs in Cyprus “cannot be the future of our homeland.”
– President Nikos Christodoulides emphasized the need for a solution to the Cyprus problem based on a bizonal, bicommunal federation with European principles and values as its foundation.
– The government is encouraging the efforts of United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and his recently departed envoy on the island Maria Angela Holguin.
– The pain on the faces of people affected by the events of 1974 is recorded in the photographs on display at the exhibition.
– The events of 1974, including the Turkish invasion and destruction, are described as an “unspeakable tragedy.”