President Nikos Christodoulides said Cyprus reunification could become a historic achievement if there is genuine political will, as he headed to meet Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhürman.
Speaking to reporters as he left the Presidential Palace, Christodoulides was asked to comment on Erhürman’s remarks that it would not be easy for the two sides to “write history together” given the cancellation of events in the occupied north.
“If there is genuine political will, I believe, and I repeat, we can write history,” Christodoulides said. “And I am going to this meeting with such an attitude.”
“If there is no political will, obviously many other things will be said,” he added.
Christodoulides calls for reunification
Referring to the cancelled events in the Turkish-occupied areas, the President said such developments were not happening for the first time and were a consequence of the current situation on the island.
“As long as this illegal state of affairs continues, we will see such developments, which are very normal,” he said.
Christodoulides stressed that he was speaking about his own position and not on behalf of the Turkish Cypriot leader.
“I am here to talk about myself and not about the Turkish Cypriot leader, to overturn this illegal state of affairs and reunite our country,” he said.
Despite the difficulties, problems and challenges, he said he believed that political will could make it possible to achieve a historic breakthrough in the Cyprus reunification process.
President expected a more positive message
Asked whether Erhürman’s response was what he had expected, Christodoulides said he had hoped for a more positive message following what he described as a positive interview that had sent positive messages to Turkish Cypriots.
His message to Turkish Cypriots and the Turkish Cypriot leader, he said, was that if the current situation continues, “the losers are the Greek Cypriots and the Turkish Cypriots, the Cypriot people”.
Christodoulides said this was his genuine belief and not a slogan intended to create impressions.
He added that he was prepared to do whatever was necessary from his side to ensure a better future for the people of Cyprus, including Greek Cypriots, Turkish Cypriots, Maronites, Armenians and Latins.
Holguin’s absence not a setback
Asked whether the cancellation of UN envoy Maria Angela Holguin’s trip to New York due to illness represented a setback, Christodoulides said it was not a positive development but should be understood in light of the medical reasons involved.
“No. It is not a positive development, but you understand that it is for medical reasons, so we must show understanding,” he said.
‘Sky is the limit’ for US-Cyprus ties
Christodoulides was also asked about his first meeting with the new US Ambassador to Cyprus, who presented his credentials earlier in the day.
The President said he would meet the ambassador again next week for a regular meeting, explaining that their initial encounter had taken place as part of the presentation of credentials.
Referring to bilateral relations, Christodoulides summed up his message in four words: “Sky is the limit” when it comes to US-Cyprus relations.
Also read: Erhürman to President: “Writing history together is anything but easy”
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