The President of the Republic received the credentials of the Ambassador of the Republic of Cuba in CyprusThe President of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr Nicos Anastasiades, received on Wednesday, February 7, 2018, during a formal ceremony at the Presidential Palace, the credentials of the Ambassador of the Republic of Cuba in Cyprus, Mr Omar Leyva Rafull.
Presenting his credentials, Ambassador Rafull said:
"Your Excellency,
It is a very high honor for me to have been appointed Ambassador of the Republic of Cuba in the Republic of Cyprus. Allow me on behalf of the Cuban people and government to convey to your Excellency our enormous willingness to work tirelessly with a view to continuing to strengthen bilateral relations and cooperation among our countries.
It is impossible to forget the historical ties that unite our peoples, and especially the sincere and solid friendship that existed between Presidents Fidel Castro Ruz and Archbishop Makarios. Nor will we forget all the mutual support and collaboration within the framework of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries where we defended the same causes.
I take this opportunity to thank you on behalf of the Cuban people and government for the unconditional support we have received from the Cypriot people and government in favor of the Resolution that has been requested for 26th consecutive times to end the Economic, Financial and Commercial Blockade that the Government of the United States of America has applied against Cuba.
As it is known, on November 1st the Agreement on Political Dialogue and Cooperation between Cuba and the European Union entered into force provisionally. In this way, the links between Brussels and Havana reach a better correspondence with the level of Cuba's ties with the States that make up the community block, which have experienced significant progress in recent years. The Agreement will enter into full force once the ratification process is completed by all the Parties, so we are sure that the Republic of Cyprus will be one of the first members of the European Union to ratify it, in correspondence with the historical ties and solidarity that have existed between our two nations.
Despite the geographical distance between Cuba and Cyprus, our peoples feel very close and there are many reasons that today make it easier for our countries to continue fighting for a more just and equitable world. Cyprus is a country for which we feel great respect and admiration, which we extend to its affable and supportive people. Cuba has firmly defended and will continue to do so as a matter of principle, the right of the Cypriots to have a nation that promotes values of coexistence, integration and work to achieve a future of peace, without external interference and with full respect for their sovereignty and territorial integrity.
I take the opportunity to present my Letters of Credence and to extend a warm greeting to you and the Cypriot people on behalf of the President of the Councils of State and Ministers of the Republic of Cuba, Raúl Castro Ruz."
Receiving the credentials, President Anastasiades said:
"Your Excellency,
It is with distinct pleasure that I receive today your Letters of Credence appointing you as the new Ambassador of the Republic of Cuba to the Republic of Cyprus. I would like to wish you every success in your mission and to assure you that my Government will provide you with every possible assistance you may need in the performance of your duties.
Cyprus and Cuba are bound by a long history of friendship and enjoy a traditionally close cooperation in international fora, especially within the United Nations. My Government looks forward to working closely with you in building upon the excellent relations that exist between our two countries and peoples as well as to explore new areas of cooperation of mutual interest in an array of areas.
Furthermore, as an EU member state, Cyprus will continue working in a constructive way for strengthening the EU-Cuba relations. To this end, the Republic of Cyprus has signed, in December 2016, the Agreement on Political Dialogue and Cooperation between Cuba and the EU which is currently in the process of ratification.
Your Excellency,
As I stated following my re-election as President of the Republic of Cyprus, the greatest challenge we face is the division and occupation of Cyprus. It is critical to end the unacceptable status quo in Cyprus caused by the illegal Turkish occupation of the territory of the Republic of Cyprus, and to reunify our country. I would like to underline once again our unwavering commitment to reunifying Cyprus and its people, and our determination to exert every effort to reach a comprehensive settlement.
Taking this opportunity, I would like to reiterate our deep appreciation for the long-standing and strong support of the Republic of Cuba to our continuous efforts to reach a just, viable and comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem, in line with the relevant UN Council Resolutions, the EU law, values and principles, and the High-Level Agreements between the leaders of the two communities and the Joint Declaration of February 11, 2014.
We deeply regret that Turkey’s refusal to negotiate within the framework set by the UN Secretary-General, and in particular Turkey’s intransigent stance on the key Chapters of Security and Guarantees and its insistence on maintaining guarantees, troops and intervention rights in reunited Cyprus, did not allow for a positive outcome to be reached during the Conference on Cyprus in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, this past July.
The Conference on Cyprus was the result οf the agreement of 4th June 2017, where the UN Secretary-General, Mr Αntοniο Guterres, publicly underlined, that the Chapter of Security and Guarantees constitutes an essential element in reaching an overaΙΙ agreement on the Cyprus probΙem. On 30 June, following consultations with all stakeholders, Mr Guterres set the framework within which the negotiations should proceed, for progress to be achieved on six thematic topics, including on the Chapter of Security and Guarantees and the issue of foreign troops.
Acting within the framework of the UN Secretary-General, the Greek Cypriot side submitted comprehensive proposals on all six thematic areas identified. Regrettably, the Turkish and Turkish Cypriot side submitted proposals which were not only contrary to the ideas set by the UN, but also contravened EU law and the Charter of the United Natiοns.
Moreover, the Turkish side proceeded with rejecting the UN Secretary-General’s proposal for issuing a press statement which would in fact record, among other, the parties's commitment on abolishing the current system of security and guarantees, and the termination of the so called rights of intervention. Instead, the Turkish Foreign Minister repeated Turkey's traditional positions on maintaining a system of security and guarantees, and a permanent presence of troops in reunited Cyprus. Moreover, contrary to the UN framework on territorial adjustments, Turkey steadfastly refused to address Greek Cypriot concerns.
It is deeply disappointing that at a critical pοint in the process, when Turkey was called to prove in a tangible manner its rhetoric that it is committed to a solution, it merely repeated its well-known unacceptable positions. We therefore hope that Turkey will revisit its intransigent positions, particularly in the areas of security and guarantees, and as regards demands that are not in line with Cyprus’s capacity as a member-state of the EU, so as to create sound prospects of achieving an overall agreement.
I would like to convey in the clearest terms that we remain strongly committed to negotiate a solution within the parameters that the Secretary-General set, for a viable and comprehensive settlement, fully in line international and EU law, that reunites Cyprus in a modern, truly independent and sovereign state, free of any third country dependencies that will offer the prospect of prosperity and peaceful co-existence for all its citizens.
Your Excellency,
Five years ago, at the time of my first election as President of the Republic of Cyprus, this country was on the verge of financial collapse. Today, we can proudly -once more- connect Cyprus to growth and potential. Cyprus is currently one of the fastest growing economies of the EU, with a GDP growth rate close to 4%. Most importantly, this growth rate is expected to remain at similar levels for the next coming years.
My Government’s plan during the next five years is to continuously improve the country’s business environment so as to reinforce the position of Cyprus as a competitive, innovative, stable and fully transparent destination for business and investment; to maintain sound public finances; to continue the promotion of structural reforms; to preserve a stable and competitive tax regime, and providing incentives for new business and investment. The majority of economic sectors in Cyprus present growth opportunities: energy, tourism, shipping, real estate, education, health, transport, research and innovation.
Despite the economic difficulties that we have faced in the near past, our country’s comparative advantages not only remain intact, but have been further enhanced and expanded, setting them apart from most investment destinations. Cyprus today continues to be a highly competitive center for international businesses, offering a platform for operations and preferential access to markets like Europe, the Middle East, North Africa and Asia.
From my side, I should emphasize the strong commitment of my Government to continue working so that Cyprus remains firmly on a path of sustainable growth. We shall continue to invest in our human capital, supporting higher education and research, and creating a business-friendly economic environment.
Your Excellency,
I would kindly request you to convey to the President of the Councils of State and Ministers of the Republic of Cuba, H.E. Mr Raúl Castro Ruz, and the people of the Republic of Cuba, our warmest and sincere greetings for peace and prosperity.
I warmly welcome you to Cyprus, Ambassador, and I wish you a constructive and fruitful tenure."
Present at the ceremony were the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Ioannis Kasoulides, the Head of Presidency at the Presidential Palace, Mr Michalis Sophocleous, and the Deputy Chief of Protocol, Mr Alexis Phedonos Vante.
