22/5/14

Toast proposal at the official luncheon hosted by the President of the Republic in honour of the Vice President of the USA

Toast proposal at the official luncheon hosted
by the President of the Republic
in honour of the Vice President of the USA

   
Mr. Vice President,

It is a distinct honour and pleasure to welcome you and your delegation on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Cyprus and the people of Cyprus.
 
This is a landmark visit of real historical significance, as it constitutes the first visit to Cyprus by a US Vice President since 1962: aptly demonstrating the significant improvement in the partnership between Cyprus and the United States. A partnership which we can now call strategic.
 
It deeply saddens me that you are visiting the Republic of Cyprus at a time when the long-standing problem of occupation and division remains unresolved. I am saddened that around this table we do not have with us our Turkish Cypriot compatriots.
 
Mr. Vice President,

Since assuming office just over a year ago, my Government, consciously and with commitment, reoriented its foreign policy, in order to promote core European and transantlantic priorities in the Eastern Mediterranean. This was deemed necessary in order to realize our full potential as an EU member state at the Union’s south-eastern-most corner, assuming its pivotal role in regional peace, stability and security in this volatile region of the world.
 
And I am pleased to note that it is widely acknowledged that we have proven to be a stable and reliable partner both to the EU and the US through, among others, our mutually beneficial cooperation in an array of fields. This, among others, includes the removal of chemical weapons from Syria, counterterrorism, crisis response and non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
 
We look forward to continuing our contribution towards these goals and I can assure you Mr. Vice President that Cyprus will offer any indispensable help towards this end.
 
Further, I believe there is a common understanding that the discovery of hydrocarbons in the Cypriot exclusive economic zone, in addition to creating new economic opportunities, has the potential to transform the regional geopolitical landscape and become a force of stability, prosperity and peace.
 
The presence of hydrocarbon reserves in the Eastern Mediterranean can provide an alternative energy corridor, leading to increased energy security.
 
In this regard, what the Government of the Republic of Cyprus is expecting from a strategic partner is to secure our sovereign rights to explore and exploit the natural resources in our Exclusive Economic Zone. To this end Mr. Vice President, I have no doubt that we will receive the support of the United States.
 
Dear Mr. Vice President,

Following our meeting, I wish to take this opportunity to express Cyprus’s sincere gratitude for the United States’s principled position on the Cyprus problem, and for your country’s interest and assistance in our efforts to reunify our country, in a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation with political equality, in accordance with United Nations Security Council Resolutions and the High Level Agreements, with a single international personality, a single sovereignty and a single citizenship and in line with EU values and principles, as the Joint Declaration of February 11 provides.
 
In this respect, please allow me to also convey my Government’s sincere appreciation for your personal interest, commitment and for devoting so much of your personal time to achieving a breakthrough on the Cyprus problem.

Taking this opportunity I would like to express my government’ s sincere appreciation for your clear remarks upon your arrival to Cyprus yesterday which reaffirm the United States’ longstanding and unwavering position as regards the recognition of only the Republic of Cyprus and its lawful government. A position which irrespective of any of your visits during your stay in Cyprus remains unchanged. Thank you once again.
 
As I have underlined during our discussion, we remain committed to working tirelessly for a solution that will safeguard the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all Cypriots – Greek and Turkish Cypriots.
 
And I would like to once more reiterate that my vision is to experience in my country what you, Mr. Vice President, have achieved in the United States - a state that protects the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all its lawful citizens, irrespective of ethnic origin.
 
We are well aware that the path to a solution will not be easy. It will require vision, political courage and determination. It is my strong conviction that bold confidence building measures can have a catalytic effect on the negotiations, by providing a dynamic impetus, enhancing trust between Greek and Turkish Cypriots and rebuilding hope and confidence in a solution, and as regards Turkey’s intentions.
 
The package proposal I have put forward contains all those elements that create a win-win situation and can be a game-changer.
 
I do hope that Turkey, which has a most decisive role to play in the Cyprus problem, will adopt a productive stance, not only as regards the implementation of Confidence Building Measures, but especially towards the aim of reaching a settlement. 

Dear Mr. Vice President,

Concluding, I would like to express my gratitude to the United States – and to you personally Mr. Vice President, as I know that you were one of the first American politicians to talk about the need to end the illegal occupation of Cyprus and return of Varosha – for believing both in the importance of reuniting Cyprus and the need to implement confidence building measures while negotiations are underway. We do count on your invaluable assistance both in moving forward with the implementation of confidence building measures and in reaching a settlement. We hope that our common efforts will soon materialize.
 
Please all join me in a warm toast to the health and happiness of Vice President Biden, as well as the members of his accompanying delegation.  I warmly welcome you to Cyprus.