Address
by the President of the Republic, Mr N. Anastasiades,
at
the British High Commission reception
on
the occasion of Queen Elizabeth II’s birthday
I
am truly delighted to be here today to celebrate the Birthday of Her
Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second. This joyful event marks a perfect
occasion for paying tribute to Her Majesty’s resolute leadership in
the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth and beyond, and a wonderful
opportunity to also welcome the wide range of ties binding Cyprus and
the United Kingdom.
I
ought to outrightly express my thanks to the High Commissioner and
Mrs Kidd for hosting this splendid reception.
Our
relations date back to the twelfth century, when Richard the
Lionheart came to Cyprus, and it is a relationship of undeniable
resilience, since it is a relationship of mutual necessity and
decisive potential.
Earlier
this year we had given new impetus to a very dynamic cooperation,
with practical deliverables, during my official visit to London The
Joint Communiqué issued on that occasion illustrates the wide
spectrum of our partnership and our commitment to exploring new areas
of collaboration.
In
particular, I consider the agreement reached between the Republic of
Cyprus and the United Kingdom for the inclusion of an area of about
200 square kilometers of the territory of the British bases in
planning zones as a historic development, as it provides, after more
than five decades following the establishment of the Republic of
Cyprus, an overall framework for property development in the British
Bases.
Simultaneously,
this agreement, aside from the fact that it opens up significant
prospects for economic growth and activity for the residents and the
owners of property in the British Bases, practically testifies in
spirit and in letter our shared commitment to further develop our
cooperation in fields we deem of mutual value and of reciprocal
interest and to cultivate a sense of renewed trust between Cyprus and
the UK and our peoples.
At
the same time, I am also pleased to note that the Joint Communiqué
reaffirmed the commitment of the United Kingdom in reaching a
settlement based on the UN Security Council Resolutions on Cyprus, as
well as on the principles upon which the EU is founded, for a State
of Cyprus with a single sovereignty, single international personality
and a single citizenship, in a bicommunal, bizonal federation with
political equality.
The
UK is a key partner to Cyprus, bilaterally, in the EU and the
Commonwealth. The benefits of this partnership were most aptly
demonstrated following last March’s bail in, through, among others,
the swift assistance and sharing of best practices provided by the UK
in the banking system and in restructuring the public sector.
In
this respect, I once more feel obliged to publicly thank the Prime
Minister, Mr David Cameron, and Her Majesty’s Government, for the
practical display of solidarity which is greatly valued and much
appreciated.
As
a result of all the above that I have referred to, our relations are
entering a phase of renewal, as we focus on investing in areas of
pragmatic value, which include energy cooperation, education and
training, entrepreneurial initiatives, and jointly and effectively
tackling asymmetric threats, as our coordination with the British
Bases illustrated last summer when together we addressed a
humanitarian crisis.
The
British High Commission in Nicosia has of course a pivotal role to
this end and I personally thank High Commissioner Kidd and his
associates for their diligent contribution towards this goal.
As
his tenure in Cyprus is drawing to a close, I would like to express
my personal gratitude and appreciation to Matthew for all his
tireless efforts towards enhancing Cypriot-British relations,
admittedly a task not without its challenges.
Matthew’s
remarkable dedication is indeed commendable, as the prolific results
of my official visit to London certainly prove.
I
call on all of you to raise your glass for a toast in honour of Her
Majesty the Queen.
_______________
