**Christodoulides Heads to New York for UN General Assembly**
President Nikos Christodoulides of Cyprus departed from Athens on Saturday, en route to New York City to participate in the United Nations’ “high-level week.” This annual event gathers leaders and representatives from all UN member states to address key global issues during the UN General Assembly.
Christodoulides is scheduled to commence his engagements on Sunday evening with a meeting involving heads of Greek diaspora associations. This discussion will focus on recent developments concerning the ongoing Cyprus problem, a longstanding geopolitical issue that has significant implications for the island nation.
On Monday, the President will meet with Jordanian King Abdullah II, marking a significant bilateral engagement aimed at strengthening ties between Cyprus and Jordan. Later that day, he is expected to attend a summit co-hosted by European Council President Antonio Costa and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. This summit will address critical topics such as multilateralism, international law, and strategies for promoting peace and prosperity globally.
Tuesday will see Christodoulides attending the opening session of the General Assembly, where UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will officially commence proceedings. The first speaker of the session will be Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, followed by Bangladeshi diplomat Khalilur Rahman, who was recently elected as the General Assembly President. Rahman won the position by a narrow margin, defeating Cyprus’ Andreas Kakouris in a vote of 99 to 91. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is also scheduled to address the assembly on the same day.
Later on Tuesday, Christodoulides will hold a meeting with Javier La Rosa, the chairman of Chevron’s base assets and emerging countries. He will also meet with Maria Angela Holguin, the UN envoy focused on the Cyprus problem, at 6 PM local time, which will be 1 AM on Wednesday in Cyprus.
On Wednesday, the President is slated to deliver his address to the General Assembly at approximately 12:30 PM local time (7:30 PM Cyprus time). Following his speech, he will participate in a high-level summit organized by Guterres that will focus on climate change. Additionally, he will meet with John Ardill, the vice president of ExxonMobil, to discuss potential collaborations and interests related to the energy sector.
Thursday’s agenda includes a working breakfast hosted by the Antenna Group, a Greek media company, in collaboration with the Atlantic Council, a prominent American think tank. This session will center on enhancing cooperation between the European Union and Gulf nations to foster regional security and prosperity.
Following the breakfast, Christodoulides will meet with Guterres at 10:55 AM local time (5:55 PM Cyprus time). He will then host a meal for representatives from the five permanent members of the UN Security Council—China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States—providing an opportunity for discussions on pressing global issues.
On Friday morning, the President will engage with Chinese Vice President Han Zheng, followed by a meeting with representatives from the American Jewish Committee. These discussions are expected to further Cyprus' diplomatic outreach and foster international relations.
Christodoulides' final engagement in New York will be a meal organized in his honor by Cypriot diaspora organizations. He is scheduled to return to Cyprus on Saturday evening, concluding a week filled with significant diplomatic activities aimed at addressing both regional and global challenges.
As the UN General Assembly convenes, Christodoulides' participation underscores Cyprus' commitment to engaging with international partners on critical issues, particularly those affecting the Eastern Mediterranean region.