of
the Ambassador of Colombia
The
President of the Republic, Mr Nicos Anastasiades, received today, at a formal
ceremony at the Presidential Palace, the credentials of the Ambassador of
Colombia to Cyprus, stationed in Rome, Mr Juan Sebastian Betancur Escobar.
Presenting
his credentials, Mr Betancur said:
“President
Nicos Anastasiades,
It
is an honor for me to represent the Government of Colombia, presided by the
honorable Juan Manuel Santos, in the Republic of Cyprus – this beautiful country
located in the mid-eastern Mediterranean.
In
this part of the world, where for centuries wars have been fought for
independence, freedom and the self-determination of countries, its regions are a
universal reference for these historic values. There are still many challenges
in this region, for which the international community will have to collaborate
in finding a solution.
Colombia
has stood by Cyprus in its quest to maintain a unified territory and hopes the
disputes regarding its sovereignty will be solved through dialogue and
diplomacy.
The
Government of Colombia, through its Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chancellor
Maria Angela Holguin, has reiterated its will to establish new channels of
cooperation, particularly in the promotion of tourism and combatting the drug
trade, by signing the 2010 Memorandum of Understanding during the Ministerial
meeting that took place at the United Nations in New York.
Furthermore,
Cyprus’ support of the Free Trade Agreement between Colombia and the European
Union, which was dutifully ratified in your National Parliament, is greatly
appreciated by the Government of Colombia.
Lastly,
I want to reiterate the importance of the tourism industry in the world today,
its positive effects on economic growth and development, the jobs it generates
and the cultural exchanged it fosters between nations.
Thanks
to information technologies, society communicates at faster speeds and higher
frequencies than ever before; but despite this, the increase in tourism has
brought countries closer together and fostered greater personal and cultural
knowledge between its peoples. Allowing our countries to generate employment
opportunities while promoting our natural, cultural and artistic wealth.
Keeping
in mind a few numbers and statistics: of the 7.2 billion people that inhabit the
earth, 1.138 billion crossed its borders in 2014. Tourism generates one out of
every 11 jobs. In the face of such potentialities, it is of paramount importance
that there are sustainable public policies that permit the creation of dignified
employment opportunities, with safeguards in order to protect our nations’
natural and cultural treasures. Clear legal frameworks that allow countries to
consciously utilize their attractions, while promoting socially useful
behaviors.
In
a sentence, the tourism industry should be seen as a leverage for social and
economic development, and general wellbeing. The Cypriot experience has always
been very significant in this aspect and I hope we can, with this in mind,
deepen our exchanges and relations.
Thank
you.”
Replying,
the President of the Republic said:
“
Your Excellency,
It
is with distinct pleasure and sincere feelings of friendship that I receive
today your Letters of Credence appointing you as the new Ambassador of the
Republic of Colombia to the Republic of Cyprus, as
well as the Letters of Recall of your distinguished predecessor .
I would like to assure you that my Government and the people of Cyprus will
provide you with every assistance in the performance of your high duties. I
personally look forward to working with you on further developing the bilateral
relations between our two countries.
Our
countries have developed and established relations of concrete substance and
trusting dialogue, based on our shared values and beliefs of justice and peace,
evident through our close cooperation in international fora and especially
within the UN. May
I express on this occasion, my Government’s appreciation and satisfaction for
the record of support between Cyprus and Colombia in international
Organisations.
Our
existing bilateral relations undoubtedly provide a solid foundation on which to
further promote our cooperation in new areas, such as tourism, trade and
education, as we are certain that the prospects of furthering our cooperation
are truly great.
Excellency,
My
country, like many other European countries, has been affected by the recent
international financial crisis. Almost two years have passed since the decision
of the Eurogroup of March 2013. As a result of the hard work of the government
and the efforts of ordinary citizens, I can state with certainty that we have
turned the page; the Cypriot economy is now on the road to full recovery.
Cyprus
has made great progress on its reform program during these past two years. The
credit institutions have been fully restructured and recapitalized, most
importantly through foreign capital. Capital restrictions imposed at the height
of the crisis have been fully abolished. Public finances have been consolidated;
fiscal targets have been met with considerable margin in 2013-2014, while
important structural reforms, including a privatizations’ roadmap, have been
initiated. These achievements helped Cyprus re-access international capital
markets already in 2014.
At
the same time, we are aware of the challenges ahead. Unemployment is high; the
private and public sectors are heavily indebted. Given the high percentage of
non-performing loans, credit institutions are stepping up their recovery
efforts. My government is confident that the recently adopted legislation on the
reformed foreclosure law and the insolvency framework are important in
addressing the issue of the non-performing loans.
Our
emphasis is now turned towards the necessary structural reforms. The focus of my
government is on administrative structural reforms with the overall aim of
setting the foundations for sustainable growth over the long run, attracting
foreign direct investment and eventually creating a new economic model for the
country.
Mr
Ambassador,
My
government’s top economic priority is the gradual return to capital markets, and
the smooth completion of the macroeconomic adjustment program. I have absolute confidence that the spirit
of unity and the drive to succeed already demonstrated by the people of Cyprus
will eventually prevail.
Your
Excellency,
The
new negotiating process on the Cyprus question, launched with the adoption of
the Joint Declaration of 11 February 2014, raised expectations for a
comprehensive settlement and the reunification of our country and its people.
However, Turkey’s illegal and provocative actions in Cyprus’ Exclusive Economic
Zone in October 2014 subverted the very basic principle of negotiations, that is
the engagement of all sides on an equal footing, free from threats and
blackmail. Under these circumstances, there was no option for the government of
Cyprus but to suspend talks.
However,
following the return to the state of play that existed prior to Turkey’s illegal
actions that forced us to suspend our participation in the dialogue, we believe
that the necessary conditions for the resumption of the negotiating process are
now in place.
In
this respect, I wish to stress that our first priority is to reach a
comprehensive, viable and fair settlement of the Cyprus issue. A settlement
based on a bi-communal, bi-zonal federation with political equality, as set out
in the relevant Security Council Resolutions, the High Level Agreements and the
Joint Declaration of February 2014, with a single international legal
personality, a single sovereignty and a single citizenship, safeguarding the
principles upon which the European Union is founded and ensuring the peaceful
co-existence and prosperity of all Cypriots.
To
this end, the recent assumption of the leadership of the Turkish Cypriot
community by Mr Mustafa Akinci creates expectations and hopes for cooperation
and joint collaboration, through engaging in substantive negotiations, with good
will and determination, so to finally reunite our homeland, free from any
occupation forces, and for Greek and Turkish Cypriots to peacefully live and
co-exist together, as they had been doing for centuries.
At
the same time, we reiterate our strong belief in the adoption of bold confidence
measures aiming at building trust, confidence and good will between the two
communities, thereby providing a much needed stimulus to the prospect of
reaching a settlement and we welcome Mr Akinci’s public statements in support of
such a prospect.
Nonetheless,
the above-mentioned do not absolve Turkey, which still military occupies the
northern part of Cyprus, from its obligations and responsibilities concerning
the efforts to find a just solution, and we do hope and expect that it will
demonstrate genuine political will and negotiate in good faith, so as to
contribute constructively to the efforts to reach a settlement as soon as
possible, not only in theory and rhetoric, but through practical and substantial
actions.
On
my behalf, I would like to once more express my sincere willingness and
determination to work tirelessly to achieve a settlement reuniting Cyprus. It is
the historically shared responsibility of the leaders of the two communities and
all stakeholders involved to uphold these ambitions and find the right forward.
It is a responsibility which I am whole-heartedly committed in undertaking.
Your
Excellency,
I
sincerely wish you every success in your important duties, aimed at achieving
greater mutual understanding and providing new impetus to the development of the
relations between our two countries.
In
welcoming you to Cyprus, I would kindly request that you convey to His
Excellency, Mr Juan Manuel Santos Calderón, as well as to the amicable people of
Colombia our warmest greetings and a message of friendship and solidarity. I
conclude by extending my heartfelt wishes and by assuring you once more of the
support of my Government and me personally to your valuable mission, so that
your tenure will be highly constructive and fruitful, and carried out in such a
way that the sound relationship that Cyprus enjoys with Colombia will further
flourish.
Ambassador
Betancur,
I warmly welcome you to Cyprus.”
Present
at the ceremony were the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Ioannis Kasoulides, the
Head of Presidency at the Presidential Palace, Mr Kypros Kyprianou, and the
Chief of Protocol, Mr Marios Kountourides.
