President Nikos Christodoulides on Wednesday said he remains “cautiously optimistic” about prospects for restarting Cyprus talks, while also outlining government planning on the British bases and announcing that new support measures to address the impact of the regional crisis will be unveiled on Thursday.
Speaking to reporters after the March 25 parade outside the Greek embassy in Nicosia, Christodoulides said the government continues its efforts for the “liberation and reunification” of Cyprus, drawing on the lessons of the 1821 Greek War of Independence.
He referred to his recent meeting with the United Nations secretary-general in Brussels, highlighting the UN chief’s “clear political will” and roadmap for moving forward.
“I hope there will be a positive response from the Turkish side so that this intention can be translated into a concrete initiative leading to the resumption of talks from where they left off, with the aim of resolving the Cyprus problem on the basis of the agreed framework,” he said.
The president also announced that he will address the public on Thursday to present a package of targeted measures aimed at mitigating the effects of the ongoing regional crisis.
“These will be specific, highly targeted measures affecting many sectors of the economy,” he said, adding that the government is in a position to introduce new support thanks to what he described as responsible fiscal management.
He noted that measures exceeding €100 million are already in place and said the current economic stability allows the government to respond effectively.
“We have prepared a package that touches on many sectors, and we will proceed with specific announcements tomorrow,” he said, adding that contingency plans are also ready depending on how the situation evolves.
On the issue of the British bases in Cyprus, Christodoulides said the government is proceeding with a clear plan, though he declined to disclose details.
“We are a government that proves in practice that when we act, we do so with planning and a clear objective,” he said, noting that London had been informed from the outset and that the national council had also been briefed.
Responding to reactions from the Turkish Cypriot side, he said Turkish Cypriots could have a say on the matter once they return to the Republic of Cyprus, while Turkey could be involved in discussions only after recognising the Republic.
He added that previous discussions with the British government on non-military development within the bases had yielded a positive response.
Asked when negotiations might begin, the president said the immediate priority is managing the current crisis, noting that preliminary discussions have already taken place.
Christodoulides also confirmed that security measures have been stepped up across Cyprus following recent developments, describing public safety as a “top priority”.
He thanked Greece for its swift response to his request to strengthen Cyprus’ deterrent capabilities, adding that other countries, including France, Italy, Spain and the Netherlands, had followed suit. He noted that the European Union had also agreed to establish a framework for collective response under Article 42.7.
On whether Britain is willing to engage in talks, Christodoulides said he would not speak on behalf of the UK government, but stressed that Cyprus has a clear plan moving forward.
He also pointed out that more than 10,000 Cypriot citizens live within the British bases, stressing that “they are not second-class citizens” and that the state has an obligation to ensure their safety.
Asked whether the upcoming measures would include support for tourism, the president said the package would cover all affected sectors.
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