In a press conference to mark his first 100 days in office, President of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides on Tuesday, June 20, 2023, affirmed a “zero tolerance” policy toward any Cypriot citizen or company helping to evade international sanctions imposed on Russia as consequence for its invasion of Ukraine.
Christodoulides averred that Cyprus “is on the right side of history” in its full support of international sanctions against Russia since Cyprus has itself suffered similar consequences as Ukraine following a 1974 Turkish invasion that split the island nation along ethnic lines.
The invasion was triggered by a coup aiming at union with Greece. Only Turkey recognizes a Turkish Cypriot declaration of independence in the island’s northern third.
Also, the Cypriot President seemed to rule out any move to cede its aging stock of Soviet-era T-80 main battle tanks, armored personnel carriers and anti-aircraft missile batteries to Ukraine in exchange for newer Western military equipment.
Christodoulides said his administration would not “take any action that would leave the Cyprus Republic without armed forces” while Turkey continues to maintain more than 35,000 troops in the north.
He said, without offering any details, that the government is focusing on strengthening the country’s naval and air assets.
In his speech, Christodoulides presented an overview of the new government’s victories achieved so far; ranging from a deal on the cost-of-living allowance (CoLA) and reducing migration to increasing support for low-income pensioners.
Christodoulides Promotes Cyprus As “Credible Business And Financial Center”
Additionally, President Nikos Christodoulides emphasized his administration’s mission to safeguard Cyprus’ name as a “credible business and financial center” after the U.S. and the U.K. recently included a handful of Cypriot nationals and Cyprus-registered companies on a list of “enablers” helping Russian oligarchs skirt sanctions.
Christodoulides told the news conference that the issue affords Cyprus an opportunity to rebrand itself as a financial node connecting “East and West, the European market with the Middle East, Asia and Africa.”
“The credibility of our country abroad is extremely important so that we can attract quality investments that would bring revenue to our country, create new, quality jobs and much more.”
Nikos Christodoulides
The U.S. and the U.K. unveiled on April 12 and again on May 19 a list including Cypriot lawyers, businessmen and companies they said were part of a “sanctions evasion network” supporting Russian billionaires Alisher Usmanov and Roman Abramovich in 20 countries.
The lists sent the Cypriot government scrambling to shore up a tattered reputation, offering assurances that the country was now firmly on the straight and narrow.
After the address, the President faced a number of questions on the government’s policy on the Cyprus problem. The Cyprus problem is an ongoing dispute between the leadership of the Greek Cypriot community in the southern portion of Cyprus and that of the Turkish Cypriot community, situated in the north.
Commenting on what the government’s next steps are to improve the relationship between the Turkish Cypriots, Christodoulides remarked that a meeting had been held in that regard.
“This is the first time that I am saying this publicly in that I had a meeting with a team of our Turkish Cypriot compatriots at my offices, upon my request, and we discussed a series of measures which the government may take on its own.
“And I must emphasize that – from our side alone – because as a result of the current situation with [Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin] Tatar it is difficult for there to be agreements [between the two sides].”
President Nikos Christodoulides
He hoped that by September the government will be ready to make specific announcements.
