President of the Republic Nikos Christodoulides on Thursday called on the Turkish government to sit at the same table with the Republic of Cyprus to agree on maritime borders.

Responding to journalists at the Presidential Palace during the “Public Consultation Day with Children” organised by the Cyprus Children’s Parliament, and asked to comment on reactions from Ankara and Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhürman regarding Wednesday’s signing of the EEZ delimitation agreement with Lebanon, the President stressed that the Republic of Cyprus is a member of the United Nations and the European Union. Based on international law, good-neighbourly relations and the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, he said, Cyprus proceeds with agreements with neighbouring states.

“My response to what comes from Ankara is to publicly reiterate the readiness of the Republic of Cyprus to sit at the same table with Turkey in order to agree—on the basis of the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea—our maritime boundaries with Turkey,” he said.

He added that if the Turkish side is as confident in its positions as it claims, “then let us sit together at the same table, discuss and define our maritime borders, as we have done with neighbouring countries and as we will continue to do.”

Asked about the messages sent by Tufan Erhürman ahead of the new effort on the Cyprus issue, and whether these messages are considered positive, the President said he would not comment on Mr Erhürman’s approach and that it does not affect the Republic of Cyprus’ planning.

He reiterated what he said he conveyed to the Turkish Cypriot leader upon their first meeting: the readiness of the Greek Cypriot side “to restart negotiations even tomorrow from where they were suspended at Crans-Montana, so that we can work towards a viable and functional solution to the Cyprus problem.”

“I also told Mr Erhürman myself that even during the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union, I am ready—fully ready—and will not invoke or seek any excuse not to sit together, so that by resuming talks and utilising the negotiation acquis, we can move towards resolving the Cyprus issue on the basis of the agreed framework,” he noted.

He continued by saying that his message to Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot leader is that if political will exists—“and from our side it certainly does”—“we are ready, fully ready, and yes, we can reach a solution to the Cyprus problem within a short timeframe, based on the agreed framework.”

The President was also asked about Friday’s visit to Germany by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, and whether Berlin would convey any message in the context of the initiative the President discussed with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

President Christodoulides said that during his recent visit to Berlin, he and the Chancellor discussed several issues, including EU-Turkey relations.

He added that he expressed specific proposals and ideas and, “taking into account Germany’s very good relations with Turkey—let me remind you that the German Chancellor was recently in Ankara—we requested support in this direction.”

“I welcome the positive response expressed publicly. From there, we await Mr Fidan’s visit, and I am sure that if anything arises, we will be duly informed,” he said.