The need for renewed momentum toward resolving the Cyprus Issue — based on United Nations resolutions and international law — was underscored by SYRIZA-Progressive Alliance leader Sokratis Famellos during his meeting at the Hellenic Parliament with Annita Demetriou, President of the Cypriot House of Representatives. Famellos stressed that fifty years after the Turkish invasion, the continuation of the occupation and division of Cyprus can no longer be tolerated, describing the Cyprus Issue as a matter of security and peace that concerns the entire international community. The SYRIZA-PS leader made clear that the status quo is unacceptable. “No one can accept 50 years of occupation, 50 years of ‘Attila’, 50 years of occupying troops, 50 years of division,” he stated emphatically.
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Famellos further argued that the Cyprus Issue is not exclusively a matter for Greece and Cyprus, but one that concerns the European Union and the United Nations as a whole. “There is no room for inaction. The Cyprus Issue is a major security and peace concern for the entire region. It is not a local matter — it is a significant issue for the European Union and the United Nations at large,” he noted.
Famellos on the Cyprus Issue: SYRIZA’s position and criticism of the government
Sokratis Famellos reiterated that SYRIZA-PS supports a bizonal, bicommunal federation as the only just and viable solution, in line with the relevant UN resolutions. “Supporting the UN and its decisions, and upholding international law, is not just about Gaza or Lebanon — it also concerns Cyprus and Greece. We need UN resolutions and international law today,” he emphasized. He also reaffirmed his party’s longstanding position that negotiations should resume from where they were left off at Crans-Montana in 2017, viewing this as the foundation for relaunching the Cyprus settlement process.
The SYRIZA-PS leader also directed criticism at the government’s foreign policy, describing it as “a passive stance of a taken-for-granted ally,” and arguing that Greece must make greater use of its international standing. “Greece must take on a more leading role, also leveraging its position as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council,” he said. For her part, Annita Demetriou, President of the Cypriot House of Representatives, stressed that the Cyprus Issue remains an international problem of invasion and occupation.
“The Cyprus Issue is not simply a local matter concerning Cyprus and Greece — it is an international issue, a matter of invasion and occupation,” she underlined. Demetriou also addressed the broader challenges facing the region, highlighting the need for a unified course of action and careful diplomatic moves to advance solutions. Also attending the meeting on behalf of SYRIZA-PS were foreign affairs spokesperson Rena Dourou and the party’s Political Secretariat representative for International and European Affairs, Rania Svigkou.
