The President of the Republic, Nicos Anastasiades, has given the assurance that he will continue to strive for the creation of the conditions for the resumption of the dialogue for a solution to the Cyprus problem after the completion of his term of office.
In his address on Tuesday at the laying of the foundation stone of the Maronite Sporting Centre in Pano Deftera, he expressed his satisfaction that this project, which has been a long-standing demand of the Maronite community, is now officially on track for implementation.
As he noted, the amount of 230,000 euros has already been allocated for the needs of the execution of the first phase of the project, while in the 2023 budget there are another 550,000 euros.
President Anastasiades said that in addition to this project, and on top of the 100,000 euro state grant that the Maronite community receives annually, the community has benefited from other projects as a result of the close cooperation with the Maronite Representative and the needs faced by the community.
He noted that the Government has worked for the liberation and reunification of the country through a just, viable and workable solution regarding the Cyprus issue, based on the UN resolutions and the European acquis.
He stressed that only such a solution will transform the country into a sovereign and independent state, a functional state, without foreign dependencies, interventionist rights and occupying armies. “I am not only mentioning this for the Greek Cypriot community, I am also mentioning it for our Turkish Cypriot compatriots, the vast majority of whom are also under occupation”, he added.
President Anastasiades stressed that we are seeking a state which will be viable, with full guarantee of human and political rights of all the people, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, noting that he never denied equality with Turkish Cypriots. “What we wanted and sought through the negotiations is the creation of a functioning state that would be independent of aspirations to become a protectorate of a third power,” he said.
He noted, however, that unfortunately, the interventions of third parties and especially Turkey did not allow for the desired solution in Crans-Montana, at a critical juncture for the history of the country.
He added that he cannot deny that during the days of former Turkish Cypriot leader, Mustafa Akinci, there was a sincere will to resolve the Cyprus problem. He noted, however, that Akinci did not feel that he was acting independently as a Turkish Cypriot leader. “Dependence on Turkey was a given, and this was ascertained during the negotiations with interference from Ankara,” he added.
The President wished that we will soon be able to see progress and that the Maronites, like every Cypriot, will be able to pursue their regional, educational and cultural activities in their ancestral homes unhindered.
He assured that he will continue to fight after the end of his term of office for what was the primary goal, how to finally create the conditions so that through a peaceful and creative dialogue we can achieve the creation of a European state based on EU principles that will allow Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots to live peacefully and creatively, with prospects for the future.
Source: Cyprus News Agency