President Christodoulides maintains proposal for Varosha despite rejection

Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides met with the Mayor of Famagusta, Simos Ioannou, and the Municipal Council at the Presidential Palace on October 26, 2026, to discuss the status of the fenced-off city of Varosha. During the meeting, the President emphasized that his proposal, which envisions placing the area under United Nations administration in exchange for opening the port of Famagusta, remains active despite its recent rejection by Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhürman on October 21.

President Christodoulides clarified that while his current initiative incorporates elements from a 2005 proposal, it has been modernized and expanded to serve as a bold confidence-building measure. He expressed hope that such measures could create the necessary momentum to resume formal negotiations for a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem. He intends to continue working with local stakeholders to refine and enrich the proposal to improve its prospects for acceptance.

The discussions occurred just one day before a scheduled meeting between the President and the Turkish Cypriot leadership, where the opening of new checkpoints is also expected to be addressed. The administration views these initiatives as critical practical steps toward fostering trust and demonstrating a commitment to resolving the long-standing political division.