The President of the Republic, Nicos Christodoulides, and the President of Palestine, Mahmoud Abbaduring their meeting at the Presidential Palace, as part of the Palestinian President’s working visit to Cyprus.
Shortly before noon, the President of the Republic welcomed the President of Palestine to the Presidential Palace, and they subsequently held a private meeting.
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
In welcoming President Abbas, the President of the Republic said that “It is with great pleasure that I welcome you to Cyprus following my two visits to Palestine in 2023 and 2025. Our relations have always been excellent. The Republic of Cyprus has recognized Palestine since 1988. Our position regarding the resolution of the Palestinian issue is clear and based on the agreed framework of United Nations resolutions.
At the same time, there are certain developments today that underscore both the importance we attach to our relations and our commitment to fostering conditions of security and stability in our region.
The bulk of our humanitarian aid is provided to Palestine. Palestine makes use of the CYCLOPS center we have in Larnaca to train Palestinians. Palestine recently participated in a seminar at the Aerial Firefighting Center we established with the European Union in Paphos.
Your visit is taking place at a very important time for our region. And I look forward to our discussion and the exchange of views, so that we can explore how we can work together—always through a positive approach—to create conditions of security and stability in the region.
The Republic of Cyprus is part of the solution to the region’s problems. It is not part of the problems. We are constantly working through this positive approach. And, of course, we stand ready to assist Palestine in any role they deem necessary for the Republic of Cyprus to help us achieve our common goals.”
For his part, President Abbas said, among other things, speaking through an interpreter, that “I thank you warmly for your invitation and the warm welcome here in Nicosia.
The Republic of Cyprus recognized Palestine in 1988—very early on—and did so without us even asking, which reflects the Republic of Cyprus’s clear stance in support of the just cause of the Palestinian people.
And I believe that relations between Palestine and the Republic of Cyprus date back much further than 1988, when there were very close ties between Cyprus and Palestine.
Here, I would like to express, before the whole world, our heartfelt thanks to the Republic of Cyprus for its humanitarian and political support for the Palestinian people and the Palestinian cause.
We are concerned about security in the region, and we are concerned about security in our relations with the Israelis; we do not want military clashes or conflicts, and we want the problem to be resolved in accordance with Security Council resolutions and international law, for the benefit of the entire region. And here we have adopted a slogan that we are not ashamed of, and we state it clearly. We support peaceful popular resistance as an expression of the Palestinian people’s protest in the event of violations of their rights.
Following this private meeting, we will have the opportunity to exchange views on the situation and on just how much the the Palestinian people are suffering—whether in the Gaza Strip or the West Bank, or East Jerusalem, which is the legitimate capital of the Palestinian state according to international resolutions. For many years now, we have been extending our hands to the Israeli side in order to resolve the conflict and establish peace, not only between the Palestinian and Israeli peoples, not just between Palestine and Israel, but between Israel and its neighboring Arab countries, for the benefit of the entire region and the world.
Two days ago, as you know, elections were held. The Israeli people went out and voted once again. We are awaiting the final results and the unfolding of the situation, pending the formation of the Israeli government; as soon as it is formed, we are willing to discuss the issue of peace with them. And here, once the government is formed, it is your role to support—since you have such good intentions and are also a neighboring country— a friendly neighboring nation, to play a role so that this peaceful discussion yields the desired positive results.”
