President of the EU Commission Ursula von der Leyen on Saturday expressed her solidarity to Cyprus as it marked 50 years of occupation.

“Cypriots deserve to live in a reunited country in conditions of peace, co-existence, stability and prosperity,” she wrote on X.

Von der Leyen described the Cyprus question as a European one, where she pledged to “firmly support Cyprus in the efforts to reunify the last divided EU member state”.

“Today, on this tragic 50th anniversary, and every day, we stand with Cyprus. We stand in support of territorial integrity and sovereignty.”

Von der Leyen said the EU would continue its efforts in line with the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions.

Her messages prompted a response from President Nikos Christodoulides who described the EU as “our space of security, our shield”.

“I fervently believe in the unifying force of our common home, the EU, as we strive, with the support and solidarity of the Union, to end the Turkish occupation and reunify the last divided EU member state.”