The Republic of Cyprus “will not stay idle” as regards the new Turkish provocations and has already began its diplomatic efforts, President Nicos Anastasiades said on Saturday, following the military parade in Nicosia to celebrate the island’s independence day.
Speaking to the press he noted that Cyprus will pursue the diplomatic path, contacts with friendly states, with the UN and the EU in order to prevent what we managed to prevent many times during the 62 years of Cyprus independence, when Turkey, in various ways, tried to abolish the Republic of Cyprus the abolition of the Republic of Cyprus, or to impose solutions that would lead the island to turn into Turkey’s protectorate.
The President said that we have an obligation to strengthen the armed forces, but went on to say that, at the same time, it is well known that Cyprus and the Greek side in particular wish, through specific proposals, for a peaceful solution.
President Anastasiades added that we have succeeded in being a pillar of stability and peace and cooperation in the entire region of Eastern Europe and the Gulf, or by being a strategic partner with the European Union and the US.
He assured that we are not going to be drawn into what they (the Turks) are pretending to raise in order to further strengthen the Turkish occupying forces by some more thousands.
The President said that they know that we want peace and a solution that will be viable and functional, that will safeguard the human rights of all citizens, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots.
He underlined that the Turkish leadership ought to know that we care much more about the well-being of our Turkish compatriots than certain others, who unfortunately use them as subordinates.
The President assured that we extend a hand of friendship in order to implement the decisions of the United Nations and the international law not as interpreted by the Turkish side, but as recorded in the UN charter.
Referring to the anniversary of October 1st, he expressed the gratitude of the State and himself to the freedom fighters of the EOKA ’55-’59 guerilla war, those who gave their lives and suffered sacrifices during the ’63-’64 intercommunal fights and the against the Turkish “bulimia”, to those who gave their lives in 1974 during the Turkish invasion, defending the territorial integrity and those who fought for democracy and freedom.
He hailed all those saying that their struggle and sacrifices allowed for the evolution of the Republic of Cyprus, now an EU member state with strategic alliances.
The President also thanked the Defence Minister, the Chief of the National Guard and the Greek government for the close relationship, cooperation and support.
Cyprus has been divided since the 1974 Turkish invasion. The latest round of talks, under the UN aegis, to reunite the island under a federal roof, took place in the summer of 2017 in the Swiss resort of Crans Montana but failed to yield results.
Source: Cyprus News Agency