Cyprus welcomes Board of Peace role
President Nikos Christodoulides said on Sunday that both the invitation and Cyprus’ participation in the upcoming Board of Peace meeting are highly significant. He spoke after the celebratory feast of Saint Maron at the Cathedral of Panagia ton Chariton in Nicosia.
Invitation under observer status
Answering questions about the invitation received and accepted by the Republic of Cyprus to attend the Board of Peace for Gaza as an observer, Christodoulides described the opportunity as “particularly important for our country, both the invitation and our presence there.” He expressed satisfaction that the United States, through the observer-status invitation, enabled Cyprus to attend the meeting.
Presenting Cyprus’ Gaza plan
The President noted that Cyprus will again highlight its specific plan for Gaza, which played a key role in the invitation. He recalled presenting a detailed plan during a visit to Egypt, focusing on implementing three aspects of the American President’s proposals.
EU member role in the Mediterranean
“As an EU member in the region, we maintain contact with leaders of several Mediterranean EU states. Within this framework, the invitation and Cyprus’ presence are highly significant,” Christodoulides added. He stressed that decisions are always guided primarily by the interests of Cyprus, and participation in the meeting serves the country’s broader objectives.
Attendance and coordination with other states
Christodoulides confirmed that either he or the Foreign Minister will attend the Board of Peace meeting. He is coordinating with other Mediterranean government leaders and expects to finalise attendance decisions shortly. Regarding other European countries, he noted that Italy and some others have confirmed participation but declined to announce official decisions on behalf of other states.
Observer status and US cooperation
The President explained that the observer status focuses on two key areas: supporting the Gaza initiative, which Cyprus has already outlined, and broader provisions of the American-led Board of Peace. He clarified that Cyprus did not participate in the Davos meeting or sign agreements previously, following an evaluation that included UN considerations.
“The US invitation for observer status reflects their desire for collaboration and working together on implementing the American President’s plan for Gaza,” Christodoulides emphasised. “As the EU country closest to Gaza, we have a vested interest in seeing this plan succeed,” he added.
Humanitarian initiative and ongoing commitment
Christodoulides also recalled Cyprus’ rapid response after the October 2023 Hamas attacks, launching the Amalthia initiative to provide humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza. He highlighted that Cyprus presented proposals at the Cairo conference, again with the US President present.
“Therefore, as the Republic of Cyprus, we have a role, responsibility, and obligation to contribute to the implementation of this plan, which we hope will ultimately bring peace to the region,” he concluded.
Also read: Gaza: 12 killed in Israeli airstrikes
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