At the 21st Economist Cyprus Summit in Nicosia, Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides stressed that the resolution of the Cypriot issue is not only a national obligation but a security issue for the entire region and of key importance for European integration itself. His statement was made at the two-day conference on 3-4 November entitled “Bridging continents for security, business and energy”.

The Cypriot President described Cyprus as a “safe haven” in a turbulent neighbourhood, a connectivity hub between three continents with a clear western orientation. He underlined that Nicosia has spearheaded trilateral and multilateral cooperation with Greece, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon and the UAE, and set an ambitious goal of maturing conditions for a regional security organization in the Middle East, along the lines of the OSCE.

A central reference was made to the Amalthea sea corridor, through which, in cooperation with the EU, the US, the UAE and the UK, humanitarian aid is being sent to Gaza. According to official updates so far and recent figures accompanying Nicosia’s verified six-point plan for the “next day”, a total of around 25,000 tonnes of aid have been moved through the corridor, with shipments resuming in the autumn.

In the same context, Nicosia has presented a concrete contribution to the implementation of the US framework for Gaza, proposing operational support and use of the Amalthea for reconstruction.

President Christodoulides stood on the unprecedented upgrading of Cypriot-American relations, with an emphasis on projects involving the Andreas Papandreou Air Base in Paphos and related dual role infrastructure, from defense to humanitarian evacuation operations. The relevant cooperation is also reflected in recent decisions on modernization and improved access to the region.

Against the backdrop of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU in 2026, Nicos Christodoulides spoke of strengthening the strategic autonomy of the Union and engaging more substantially with the issues of the South, from the Mediterranean to the Gulf, underlining that the security of the region is inextricably linked to the security of Europe.

“Window” for resumption of talks

The Cypriot President linked outward-looking policies and humanitarian initiatives to the revival of international interest in the Cyprus problem. He noted the role of the United Nations and the UN Secretary General’s personal envoy Maria Angela Olgin, as well as the appointment by the EU of a special envoy (former Commissioner Johannes Hahn) as signs of movement on the diplomatic front.

The election of Tufan Erhiurman in the occupied territories two weeks ago, with a clear mandate in favour of resuming talks on a federal basis, creates a new political environment, with Olgin’s next visit scheduled for early December.

The Stakes

The message from Nicosia was clear. A viable, workable solution based on UN resolutions and the European acquis will unlock the island’s potential, safeguard regional stability and, as Christodoulides said, serve the broader goal of European integration. The circumstances, with the UN-EU mobility and the rearrangements in the occupied territories, show that the window of opportunity exists. The question is whether the parties involved will make use of it before it closes.