President points to new “window of opportunity” for Cyprus settlement
The President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, pointed on Saturday to a new “window of opportunity” for a solution of the Cyprus problem, following the appointment of the new personal envoy of the UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres. At the same time, he said he acknowledged the existing challenges and problems.

The President was speaking at the premiere of the first episode of the TV series “Famagusta” at the Nicosia Municipal Theatre, in Nicosia. He noted that the production coincides with the 50-year anniversary of the 1974 Turkish invasion in Cyprus, adding that, 50 years later, there are still refugees, enclaved people and missing persons.

“The production shows to all of us, especially to those of us who are at this juncture at the helm of the state, our obligation and responsibility to do everything possible, so that this year’s sad anniversary will be the last, since through the efforts that are launched apparently with the appointment of a new personal envoy of the UN Secretary General, a new “window” of opportunity is created, without ignoring the difficulties, the challenges, the problems”, he noted.

He stated that, in cooperation with the political leadership of the country, he will do everything possible to free Cyprus and reunite the country.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres appointed María Ángela Holguín Cuéllar of Colombia as his personal envoy for Cyprus, to assume a Good Offices role on his behalf and search for common ground on the way forward in the Cyprus issue.