Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Wednesday referred to the multifaceted contribution made by the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nicos Anastasiades, to the progress of Cyprus, but also to the ongoing efforts to achieve a fair and viable solution to the Cyprus problem.
“You managed to not only fix the economy but also develop your country as a whole on many different levels and I think you have every reason to be proud of that,” he said.
“Unfortunately, there remain issues that you were unable and we were unable to resolve, most importantly the great national injury of the Cyprus problem. I know, however, that even as a former President of the Republic, once your term in office has been completed, your heart will always be on this, on how we will achieve a fair, functional and viable solution to the Cyprus problem.”
Οn his part, Anastasiades emphasised the close cooperation between Nicosia and Athens in addressing the dangers from Turkish revisionism.
“What I would like to convey is the gratitude of Cypriot Hellenism to the government, to your own government, but also to each individual Greek government, because through close cooperation we were called upon to deal with – and I think we did deal with – several dangers arising from Turkish revisionism, through diplomacy, the good neighbourliness that we taught how to build through the trilateral, quadrilateral, multilateral alliances we have built, I think we have adequately shielded the Republic of Cyprus, so that it can negotiate a a solution that is functional and constantly viable, but also consistent with the EU acquis. Something that will protect not only the Greek Cypriots, but also the Turkish Cypriots, thus contributing to peace prevailing, but also to the progress of the entire Cypriot people, both Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots,” Anastasiades noted and added:
“As you well know, a second reason for my presence here today, is the practical minimum gesture of solidarity towards Hellenism with the foundation of settlements, social residences in Mati. I repeat, this is a simple gesture, because Greece’s solidarity with Cyprus was manifold in the same way, either with sacrifices, with blood, or with material actions that supported the Republic of Cyprus. And having said that, I want to add one thing: I will continue to be a Greek who worries about the fate of our Cyprus, for the fate of our Greece. I will be present not in power, but in whatever struggles we are called upon to undertake.”
SOURCE; ANA-MPA
