Pavlos Xanthoulis
The participation of the Republic of Cyprus at Sharm El-Sheikh for the signing of the Gaza agreement is noteworthy. President Christodoulides was among 23 leaders in attendance, and that should not be understated. The fact that he also presented a plan to support Gaza’s reconstruction adds further significance.
But all of this requires a filter of seriousness. Simply being there, while important, does not automatically translate into enhancing Cyprus’ diplomatic footprint. After all, we were in the back, watching the upgraded Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who held Hamas’ “key,” fully exploit his leverage. Erdogan signed the ceasefire agreement as a “guarantor,” drawing praise from Donald Trump, who lauded the Turkish president for the release of 20 Israeli hostages. Trump, of course, tends to admire those with power, regardless of how they wield it, and even praised Erdogan for his role in Syria, calling him “a friend, someone I love and respect.”
Erdogan may have attempted to veto Cyprus’ presence, but Christodoulides, with his enhanced political profile, appeared to have stood his ground, and thus Cyprus was officially “represented.”
Meanwhile, our president judged that the moment was right to present six specific proposals across three areas—security, reconstruction, and humanitarian aid—which he said would complement Trump’s controversial 20-point Gaza plan. But with whom and where did he discuss this? From the back table? Did the four “guarantors” seated in front of him—the U.S. president, the Turkish president, the Emir of Qatar, and the Egyptian president—turn their heads back to hear our president’s six-point plan? A proposal only gains significance when it is received positively by those involved, not merely when announced, as some in the Cypriot press seem to think.
What stole the spotlight, however, was Christodoulides’ statement: “Even though some did not want the Republic of Cyprus to be present, we were represented.” The clear target was Turkey. Erdogan may have attempted to veto Cyprus’ presence, but Christodoulides, with his enhanced political profile, appeared to have stood his ground, and thus Cyprus was officially “represented.”
Let’s hope the same confidence translates to the Cyprus issue, where Erdogan’s blocking ability is far more tangible. While the Sharm El-Sheikh display may have impressed domestically, the reality is stark: Erdogan successfully vetoed Benjamin Netanyahu’s presence, ensuring the Israeli leader did not attend the signing. So, if Erdogan could block Netanyahu, why should anyone assume he could not have blocked Christodoulides? Or do some still believe our president carries more weight in Trump’s eyes than Netanyahu does?
*This article was translated from its Greek original
