Cyprus Times

President of Cyprus at ZDF: Cyprus Issue is Not a Frozen Conflict, Lesson from Gaza

Published January 2, 2026, 16:07
President of Cyprus at ZDF: Cyprus Issue is Not a Frozen Conflict, Lesson from Gaza

The President of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, in an interview with the German ZDF on the occasion of assuming the Presidency of the Council of the EU, emphasized that the Cyprus issue is not a frozen conflict, pointing to the lesson from the situation in Gaza. He stressed that the status quo is dangerous for all residents of the island and reunification would offer significant opportunities. The President Christodoulides stated that the Cypriot Presidency in the Council of the EU will focus on three main goals: strengthening the EU's strategic autonomy, bringing the EU closer to the countries of the Middle East, India and the Gulf, and addressing the daily problems of EU citizens, such as housing and energy costs. Regarding strategic autonomy, the President highlighted the EU's dependence on the US, China and Russia for defense, raw materials and energy respectively, and the need to strengthen the EU's competitiveness to overcome these dependencies. Finally, referring to Turkey, the President Christodoulides stated that Cyprus, like other EU member states, would benefit from a rapprochement with Turkey, provided that Turkey meets the criteria set by the EU. He preferred a neighbor oriented towards Europe, rather than one with other influences.

Share:
Read Full Article on Cyprus Times

You Might Also Like

Back to News