Cyprus’ President Nicos Anastasiades on Monday, expressed his conviction that the visit to Cyprus of the Earl and Countess of Wessex, would contribute to further advancing the historic ties of friendship between Cyprus and the United Kingdom.
Speaking at the reception held by the British High Commissioner, Stephen Lillie, on the occasion of the Queen’s Birthday Party and Platinum Jubilee, in the presence of the Earl and Countess of Wessex, President Anastasiades said this was an event which also provides the opportunity “to reflect upon the excellent and enduring bonds between our countries, our strong people-to-people contacts and our mutually beneficial and multilateral co-operation on numerous issues of common interest.”
“I have no doubt that your visit will be pleasant but most importantly productive, in contributing to further advancing the historic ties of friendship between Cyprus and the United Kingdom,” he told the Earl and the Countess. “To this end, I look forward to the meeting we will hold tomorrow that will allow us to discuss the broad range of issues that bind our peoples and countries together,” he added.
The President also referred to the relations between the two countries, pointing out that the Cypriot diaspora in the UK is the largest Cypriot community overseas, “with many Cypriots receiving honours by Her Majesty the Queen for their services in fields such as education, arts, culture, science and business.”
At the same time, he added, the UK is one of the most favourite academic destinations to thousands of Cypriot students, while Cyprus is home to thousands of Britons and one of the most preferred tourist destinations for hundreds of thousands of tourists from the United Kingdom.
It is a well-known fact, he said, “that our relationship extends far beyond the above-mentioned areas and covers a wide spectrum of policy areas, with our economic, trade, business and investment relationship constituting a fundamental pillar of our partnership.”
Prince Edward said it was a “great pleasure” to be in Cyprus, “a very special moment to be here, at the Queen’s birthday party but in particular in the year of the Platinum Jubilee,” which, he added, was “a remarkable milestone.”
He added that the reason they are in Cyprus is “really to learn more about this wonderful island, and its history and about you, the people of Cyprus,” but also about the many links between the two countries “and what makes this particular relationship so very special and very unique.”
The Earl of Wessex said they are also interested in the future “and how we can help each other in the future, and what are the options and what are the challenges.”
“I think what we’ve all discovered in the last few years, in this very uncertain and unsettled world is that friends really matter, and it’s a delight to be here, we certainly came to Cyprus as a friend and I very much hope that Cyprus counts Britain as a good friend,” he added.
He said this is a very brief visit but a very busy one.
On Tuesday morning, the Earl and the Countess will be received by President Anastasiades and the First Lady, Andri Anastasiades, at the Presidential Palace.
While in Cyprus, they are to also meet British peacekeepers serving at UNFICYP and members of the British Forces serving in the British Bases.
Source: Cyprus News Agency