The excellent bilateral relations between Nicosia and Athens were reaffirmed during a meeting at the United Nations headquarters in New York, between the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, and the Prime Minister of Greece, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, in the context of the 80th Session of the UN General Assembly.
According to a joint statement by the two leaders, President Christodoulides, on 23 September, briefed the Greek Prime Minister on the priorities of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union and discussed the issues that will be raised at the upcoming Cyprus-Greece Intergovernmental Summit to be held in November in Greece.
In relation to the Greece-Cyprus electricity interconnection project, it is noted that they reiterated that the two Governments remain fully committed to the implementation of this project “of strategic importance”, “as are the President of the European Commission and the President of the European Council, who are fully up to date and support the implementation of the project.”
Sources, meanwhile, have also told CNA tha attention was paid to the supportive role of the EU as regards the electricity interconnection project (GSI).
The sources noted that Greece and Cyprus are coordinating with European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, and European Council President, António Costa, as this is a common interest project, taking also into account the positions expressed in recent months.
The two sides support the project, have exchanged views and have been coordinating on the necessary actions they both to take with a view to ensure its progress, the sources said.
Meanwhile, President Christodoulides also briefed the Greek Prime Minister about the latest developments on the Cyprus problem and, in particular about the joint meeting with the Turkish Cypriot leader, to be held under the auspices of the UN Secretary-General on 27 September, the joint statement concludes.
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 due to Turkish intransigence. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively.
A second informal meeting on Cyprus in broader format was held in New York, on July 16-17, 2025. Another meeting is anticipated later this year, to follow up on initiatives, agreed by the parties, which the UN Secretary-General António Guterres said they demonstrate a commitment to continuing a dialogue on the way forward. Guterres also announced that he would meet jointly with Cyprus leaders during the General Assembly high-level week, in September.
The two sides in Cyprus continue discussions on outstanding issues, including the opening of crossing points and a solar energy installation in the buffer zone. They also agreed to cooperate on a number of issues, including the exchange of cultural artifacts, while Maria Angela Holguín, the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy on Cyprus, will continue her efforts.
The European Commission designated Johannes Hahn, a former European Commissioner, as Special Envoy for Cyprus to contribute to the settlement process, in close cooperation with Holguín.
(Source: CNA)
