The Government Spokesman, Mr Christos Stylianides,
submits resignation
Mr Christos Stylianides has submitted his resignation
from the office of Government Spokesman, which he held for fourteen months, in
order to contest a seat for the European Parliament in the upcoming elections.
In remarks to reporters following his resignation, Mr
Stylianides said the following: “My decision, at this time, to seek election as
a member of the European Parliament, besides being a natural development along
the path of my political career, is also a decision based on my strong
conviction that during the next critical period the future of Cyprus will be
confronted equally seriously both here in our homeland as well as in Brussels.”
He added that the contribution of the Government of
President Nicos Anastasiades in the restoration of Cyprus’ trustworthiness and
esteem in Europe and internationally has been decisive. “Credibility” he noted,
“is the steadiest ally for small states that seek to play a stabilizing role in
sensitive areas such as ours.”
Mr Stylianides pointed out that “while President
Anastasiades and the Government used authority and political capital for the
stabilization of the economy, at the same time they did not neglect the Cyprus
problem. By securing, after a tough negotiation, the issuing of a joint communiqué,
the preconditions for the commencement of a substantive dialogue with a
prospect for the solution of the Cyprus problem, are satisfied. In spite of
these, maintaining credibility and monitoring developments at the heart of
Europe continues to be of great importance primarily for the Cyprus problem but
also with regard to economic developments.”
In closing, Mr Stylianides expressed his “special
thanks” to President Anastasiades for the trust he has shown in him. He added
that his close collaboration with President Anastasiades “was for me a lesson
in policy making and policy management” confirming in practice his conviction
that Nicos Anastasiades is a decisive leader. “This political and friendly
relationship will remain active and alive from whatever position I may serve,”
Mr Stylianides said.
He also thanked “my friends the Ministers with whom I
had excellent cooperation during all this time.”
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