The President of the Republic receives the credentials
of
the Ambassador of the Republic of Slovenia
The President of the Republic, Mr Nicos Anastasiades, received today,
at a formal ceremony, at the Presidential Palace, the credentials of the
Ambassador of the Republic of Slovenia to the Republic of Cyprus, stationed in
Athens, Mrs Anita Pipan.
Presenting her credentials , Ambassador Pipan
said:
“It is my great honor to present the Letters of Credence by which
H.E. the President of the Republic of Slovenia, Mr Borut Pahor, has appointed me
to be the next Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of
Slovenia to the Republic of Cyprus.
Slovenia and Cyprus are partners and friends and enjoy positive
bilateral relations. As members of the common EU family, we share values as well
as many views on issues of international and regional importance, and face
certain similar challenges. As two small states we understand the value of
partnerships and mutual support in order for our interests to be better heard
and taken into consideration in the EU and wider international fora.
As the ambassador of Slovenia to Cyprus I will strive to further
expand and enhance our bilateral cooperation, be it through promoting bilateral
political dialogue on all levels as well as working on strengthening the
cooperation in the fields of economy, science, technology and tourism, inter
alia.
Both our countries felt the burden of the global financial crisis and
had to go through important structural reforms. In this respect I would like to
express our congratulations on Cyprus' successful conclusion of its bailout
programme with the European Union's rescue fund and on the fact that it has
managed to restore economic growth. During the economic recovery it is the right
time for optimism. Therefore I plan to explore the opportunities that my country
sees in the sectors of construction and engineering, energy sector, electronics
and electro engineering, chemical industry, ITC, pharmaceutical industry,
transport and logistics. I also hope to attract Cypriot investment to Slovenia
and vice versa.
His Excellency,
My country, Slovenia, remains committed to a just, comprehensive, and
realistic solution to the Cyprus issue with the assistance of the UN and in
compliance with relevant Security Council resolutions as well as EU principles
and values. Slovenia is a strong supporter of negotiations as well as of the
leaders of both communities in their endeavours to attain a comprehensive solution in the near future. The timely
solution of the Cyprus issue would set a good example for resolving other
conflicts that may seem irresolvable and would be of geo-strategic significance
not only for the region of the Eastern Mediterranean, but also the European
Union as a whole.
In the times of great challenges such as the common migrant crisis,
terrorism or climate change, I will strive to promote close dialogue, so that
Slovenia and Cyprus address them as partners, both bilaterally, as well as
within the EU and through the United Nations. In this context Slovenia will be
pleased to support the candidature of Ambassador Mavroyiannis for the post of
President of the 71 st session of the United Nations General
Assembly.
To conclude, I am looking forward to working closely with the
partners from the government of the Republic of Cyprus, from business, academic
and civil society, in order to further promote the ties and cooperation between
our two countries for the benefit of our peoples and citizens.
I would also like to extend my best wishes to you in your commitment
to work for the peace, security and prosperity of your country and its
people”.
Receiving her credentials , the President of the
Republic said:
“Your Excellency,
It is with great pleasure that I receive today your Letters of
Credence appointing you as the new Ambassador of the Republic of Slovenia to the Republic of Cyprus as well as
the Letters of Recall of your predecessor. Ι
wish to assure you that my Government will provide every assistance in the
performance of your high duties.
Our countries, both as partners within the European Union and on a
bilateral basis, have developed very
close and warm relations, based on our shared values and principles of democracy, human rights and the rule of law. We stand ready to
continue our cooperation, and extend our relations to other areas.
Excellency,
The Cypriot economy is now emerging out of its most challenging
period to date. Last month, Cyprus has managed to successfully complete the
implementation of the macroeconomic adjustment programme that was agreed with EU
Institutions and IMF in March 2013. With vision, detailed planning and prudence
and with the responsible stance and hard work of the Cypriot people, we made it
possible to restore the credibility of the state and the country’s financial
sector, faster than anyone could have predicted three years ago. I can proudly and confidently state that
Cyprus has become a success story of economic reform.
The combination of the resilience of the productive sectors of our
economy with a very determined effort of economic reform and fiscal
consolidation was key to this success.
The last three years are a prime example of what can be achieved. In
the first three months of 2013 the economy registered a negative growth rate of
-5.7 per cent that peaked at -6.5 per cent in the second quarter of the same
year. Today, after almost four years of
recession, the Cyprus economy returned to positive economic growth rates by
registering GDP growth of +1.6 per cent in 2015. Furthermore, in March 2013, the
fiscal deficit was between five to six per cent of GDP, while by the end of 2015
the government managed not only to cover the deficit but also to record a
primary surplus of 2.5 per cent of GDP.
Furthermore, the Government policies and measures have resulted in
the stabilization of the financial system, which was confirmed by the positive
results of the pan-European stress tests of the Quality of Assets and Resilience
under adverse situations. With a restructured and fully recapitalized banking
sector - mainly through important international investors - fiscal imbalances
permanently addressed, and a programme of radical structural reforms, Cyprus has
managed to access the international capital markets much earlier than any other
programme country.
Looking ahead, we are confident that the economy will be on solid
ground in the medium and long term. The completion of the country’s adjustment
programme is not the end of the road.
We still need to tackle significant challenges and continue our policy of
changes, reforms and rationalisation of public finances in a serious manner,
sharpen our competitive edge and attract foreign direct investments. Our
ultimate goal is to achieve sustained growth and prosperity for all
Cypriots.
Excellency,
Since May 2015 we are engaging in intensive negotiations to reach a
comprehensive settlement on the Cyprus problem. While a common understanding on
an important number of issues has been reached in the negotiating table, there
are still remaining differences in all chapters and we have yet to embark on
substantive discussions in a number of core issues.
At the same time, there are also issues on which even if we reach a
common understanding, the complexities associated with their implementation
require time and careful planning.
Thus, it is vital to be well-prepared and present to the people a
clear Plan, so as to avoid reaching a solution with considerable gaps or
ambiguities that will negatively affect its viability.
On my behalf, I would like to reiterate my sincere willingness and
determination to work tirelessly to achieve 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. A viable and functional solution in line
with the European Union acquis, values and principles; a European solution that
will safeguard the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all Cypriots.
It is our sincere hope that Turkey, an occupying force in Cyprus,
will demonstrate genuine political will to reach a settlement, not via rhetoric
assurances, but through the adoption of concrete steps which will positively
underpin the negotiating process and the climate of hope prevailing in the
island.
We count on our European partners – we count on Slovenia – to support
our committed efforts to reunify Cyprus
Excellency,
In welcoming
you to Cyprus, I would request you to convey to His Excellency the President of the Republic
of Slovenia, Mr Borut Pahor my warmest greetings and a message of
sincere friendship and solidarity. I conclude by assuring you once more of the
support of my Government 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 Slovenia will further flourish”.
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