German President arrives in Cyprus for state visit

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier is in Cyprus for contacts after being invited by President Nikos Christodoulides, on the first state visit by a German president to the island since diplomatic ties were established between the two countries.

After arriving over the weekend, Steinmeier will be heading to the Presidential Palace on 12 February to meet with his Cypriot counterpart.

According to a press release by the presidency, after a brief ceremony during which the two leaders will exchange medals, they will hold a private meeting followed by extended talks between the delegations of the two countries, after which the two Presidents will make statements to the press.

Christodoulides and Steinmeier will then visit the Nicosia Town Hall and old town of Nicosia along the Green Line.

This will be followed by lunch hosted by the leadership of the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

In the afternoon, Steinmeier will visit the Anthropological Laboratory of the Committee on Missing Persons (CMP) and will meet with UNFICYP peacekeepers. He will also visit the House of Europe and Goethe Institute before meeting the President of the House of Representatives at the Parliament.

Steinmeier will attend an official dinner hosted in his honour at the Presidential Palace by President Christodoulides.

On 13 February, the German President will visit the Makarios III Gymnasium in Platy Aglantzia area of Nicosia, where he will talk to students and then go to the Kofinou Reception Centre for Asylum Seekers where he will be briefed by the Minister of Interior, Constantinos Ioannou.

President Steinmeier will visit the village of Lefkara in Larnaca district, which he will tour. The two presidents will have lunch in the village of Kato Dries before President Steinmeier departs for Germany.