German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier arrives in Cyprus late this afternoon on what is being hailed as a historic three day visit to Cyprus, following an invitation by President of the Republic Nicos Christodoulides.
According to a Cyprus Presidency statement, it is the first visit by a German President to Cyprus since the two countries established diplomatic relations.
The German Presidency says that Steinmeier will be visiting an ‘Eastern Mediterranean country with which there is close cooperation, an EU member in a very particular political and geographical position’.
Government spokesman Constandinos Letympiotis described the German President’s contacts in Cyprus as of ‘great importance’.
Steinmeier and his delegation were set to arrive late this afternoon and the German President will be officially welcomed by President Christodoulides tomorrow morning at a Presidential Palace ceremony.
The two Presidents will exchange medals, followed by a tete a tete and extended talks with delegations from the two countries. Christodoulides and Steinmeier will then proceed with media remarks.
The Two Presidents will visit the Nicosia Municipal Palace and the Old City along the ceasefire line, known as ‘Green Line’, when referred to the capital.
The Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry will then a host a lunch in honour of the President of Germany.
Tomorrow afternoon he will visit the Investigative Committee of Missing Persons Anthropological Laboratory and meet briefly with UN peacekeepers.
Steinmeier will also hold contacts at the House of Europe and visit the Goethe Institut, the German language and cultural centre, near the Ledra Palace hotel, adjacent to the Green Line.
The German President will meet House Speaker Annita Demetriou and tomorrow evening he will be the guest of honour in an official dinner hosted by President Christodoulides at the Presidential Palace.
On Tuesday, February 13th, Frank-Walter Steinmeier will speak with pupils at the Archbishop Makarios the 3rd Gymnasium of Platy Aglantzias, as well as travel to the Kofinou Migrant Centre, where he will be briefed by Interior Minister Constandinos Ioannou.
It will be followed by a guided tour of the historic lace village of Lefkara and then lunch will be hosted for the two Presidents at the picturesque village of Kato Drys. Steinmeier is scheduled to depart for Berlin on Tuesday late afternoon.
