Cyprus Forum Kicks Off in Southern Nicosia

The "Cyprus Forum" conference has officially begun in southern Nicosia, taking place over two days, from October 3 to 4.

During the opening ceremony, speeches were delivered by the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides; the Chairperson of the Greek Cypriot Parliament, Annita Demetriou; the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General, Colin Stewart; the Head of the European Commission's Support to Cyprus Settlement, Julia Bertazzolo; and the mayors of the Turkish Municipality of Nicosia (LTB), Mehmet Harmancı, and southern Nicosia, Charalambos Pruntzos.

The leaders from both sides of Nicosia issued a joint statement highlighting the urgent need for a collective re-evaluation of what security means for all residents of the island.

According to Mehmet Harmancı, the current Cyprus issue is "not a secondary matter; it remains the primary concern for both communities on the island and intersects with all other topics that will be discussed at the 'Cyprus Forum.'"

He also emphasized that the challenges faced by both sides can only be resolved through joint efforts, stating that "without a peaceful and sustainable solution, it is impossible to realize the island's true economic potential, achieve environmental sustainability, and build effective resilience against threats related to climate change."

"The success stories in the capital, Nicosia, are built on goodwill, mutual respect, and trust," remarked the head of LTB.

During a discussion on "20 Years of Cyprus in the EU," Mehmet Harmancı urged participants to reflect on the missed opportunities in terms of development, resilience, sustainability, human rights, and security due to Cyprus's failure to join the European Union as a unified entity.

Reflecting on a decade of collaborative work as elected mayors representing communities on both sides of Nicosia, the LTB head noted that they will continue to advocate for initiatives that benefit all residents of Nicosia while fostering peace and hope for reunification.

"Together, we aim to increase the number of crossing points and implement the Kanlidere project, which will connect both sides of the city," concluded the mayor.