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Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides is set to meet British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at Downing Street today, where the two leaders will address several critical topics, including efforts to resume negotiations on the Cyprus issue, regional developments, and strengthening bilateral relations.
This will be the first face-to-face meeting between Christodoulides and Starmer since the latter’s election. According to a Whitehall source, the UK is keen to encourage "flexibility" in resolving the long-standing Cyprus dispute. The source added that recent developments suggest progress may be possible, noting that Turkish Cypriots are no longer emphasizing sovereign equality as a precondition for talks, but rather focusing on direct flights, trade, and contacts. However, the UK's position on a solution based on a bizonal, bicommunal federation remains unchanged.
In addition to the Cyprus issue, the two leaders will discuss regional matters, particularly the escalating crisis in the Middle East. Cyprus has played a pivotal role in providing humanitarian assistance, including through the Amalthea maritime corridor and the Estia plan, initiatives closely coordinated with the UK. Starmer is expected to commend Cyprus for its efforts in supporting humanitarian causes in the region.
President Christodoulides will also brief Starmer on the outcomes of the recent MED9 Summit in Cyprus, which was attended by Jordan’s King Abdullah, where discussions centered on de-escalating tensions in the Middle East.
Following their meeting, expanded talks will take place with additional officials, including Cyprus' Minister of Foreign Affairs Constantinos Kombos and Government Spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis. Christodoulides is set to depart for New York afterward, where he will attend an informal meeting with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar to further discuss the Cyprus issue.
Cyprus has been divided since Turkey's 1974 invasion and occupation of its northern third. Despite numerous rounds of UN-led peace talks, the island remains partitioned, with the last major effort in 2017 ending inconclusively.
[Information sourced from CNA]
