Address by the
President of the Republic Mr Nicos Anastasiades
at the Annual
Testimonial Dinner of the Cyprus Federation of America
It is
a great honour and pleasure for me to be here with you again, and to
address you on the occasion of the Annual testimonial dinner of the
Cyprus
Federation
of America
Since its establishment,
the Cyprus Federation of America has set itself as a vital instrument
of preserving and promoting our culture and traditions, essential
elements for every country in safeguarding the continuation of its
history and civilization. It is also extremely important that you are
transmitting our values to the younger generations of the
Greek-Cypriot American Community, preserving their bonds with Cyprus.
I also express the
gratitude of our people and my Government for your active efforts
towards enhancing the relations between the United States and Cyprus,
by encouraging exchanges and people-to-people links, as well as
promoting our just cause to end the anachronistic division of our
country.
2014 has been a
particularly important year in the Cypriot-American relations. In May
2014, the American Vice President, Joe Biden, visited Cyprus, the
first visit of its kind to take place in more than fifty years. The
visit of Joe Biden, someone I feel honoured and privileged to
now call a friend, was a milestone in our new, dynamic, and strategic
relationship with the US, and a clear signal that the reorientation
of our foreign policy is already bearing fruit.
In this respect, I feel
obliged to convey my sincere gratitude and appreciation towards the
Cyprus Federation of America for their tireless efforts and support
in ensuring the success of the said visit.
Further, an apt
demonstration of the upgrading of the CY-US relations is the fact
that during my presence in New York I met with the US Secretary of
State, and, yet again, with the US Vice-President.
With all of them we
discussed about Cyprus’s strategic realignment with Western
institutions and security structures, its role, as the last outpost
of the western alliance in the increasingly volatile eastern
Mediterranean, as well as its potential contribution to the energy
security of Europe.
In addition, ideas were
exchanged as to how the US can actively contribute to the
negotiations underway aiming at reaching a settlement on the Cyprus
problem.
I want to assure you that
my Government’s foreign policy is committed in boosting and
enhancing Cypriot-American relations, in all possible fields. To this
end, as always, we count on your cooperation and support, your
important contribution, and your network of relationships and
alliances both inside the Congress, as well as the Administration, to
move this relationship to another level.
Dear Friends,
Moving
to the other major topic of this evening’s gathering, I wish to
extend my heartfelt congratulations and thanks to
this year’s honoree, the American Jewish Committee: in recognition
of its concrete support to Cyprus
and Hellenism. AJC has worked tirelessly to advance ties between
Cyprus, Israel and the United States, mutually beneficial to our
countries and peoples, and of immense significance in an ever
changing Near East.
At the same time, we
commend the valuable co-operation between the AJC, the Cyprus
Federation of America and our Government, in advancing our common
values and shared goal of furthering the relationship between Cyprus,
Israel and America.
The American Jewish
Committee has been pivotal in promoting and contributing to the
enhancement of our partnership with Israel and the US on all levels,
whether political, economic, cultural or strategic. The AJC, with its
significant influence in international affairs, as well as American
politics, has consistently and tirelessly supported the full
restoration of the human rights and the fundamental freedoms of the
people of Cyprus, and the just resolution of the Cyprus problem.
I salute the AJC and its
leadership, especially its President, Stanley Bergman and its
Executive Director, David Harris, for their vision, dedication, and
hard work.
I would like to take this
opportunity to touch upon the relationship between Cyprus and Israel.
During recent times, this relationship has experienced a qualitative
upgrade marked by an intensified level of contact and exchanges.
In Cyprus, Israel
recognizes that it can count on a stable and predictable partner, one
that will consistently deliver on issues of bilateral concern: a
partner that can represent the Israeli viewpoint, as well the
country’s needs and perspective, not only within the EU, but
internationally. Cyprus stands ready and willing to work towards
further expanding this mutually beneficial relationship.
Further, the discovery of
substantial hydrocarbon deposits in the Eastern Mediterranean and
within our Exclusive Economic Zones can play a positive role towards
peace and stability in our troubled region, beyond the substantive
and promising prospects for bilateral cooperation.
In the model of the
European Coal and Steel Community, our energy perspectives and
cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean can form the catalyst for
resolving our long standing and seemingly intractable problems
through a different perspective: that of economic cooperation and
interdependence in exploiting our energy wealth.
With these thoughts, and
on this occasion, I convey my best regards and wishes to all members
of your Federation and through you to all our compatriots in the
United States. And once again, let me congratulate the AJC, for this
well-deserved honour, with which I look forward to working closely to
deepen our friendship and cooperation even further.
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