References by the President of the
Republic
to the Cyprus problem and the
Economy
The President of the Republic, Mr Nicos Anastasiades,
addressed tonight, in Nicosia, the General Assembly of the Cyprus Employers and
Industrialists Federation.
In his address, the President said, among other things,
that the Cypriot economy has now regained international credibility and at the
same time we have managed to restore the confidence in the banking system.
He pointed out, in particular, the positive evaluations
by the international lenders of Cyprus and the continuous upgrades of the
economy by international rating agencies.
Referring to the Cyprus problem, the President said that
“we know that we have a long way ahead of us. We know that we will face
difficulties. But since our vision is common (with the new leader of the Turkish
Cypriot community, Mr Mustafa Akinci), and I have already established that right
from our first meetings as well as from his own political course, I believe that
we will be able to close the wounds that have been open for decades in this
land.”
He added that last Friday, following eight months of
interruption in the talks on the Cyprus problem, “we began a new cycle of
negotiations aiming at the solution of the Cyprus problem. Our goal is the one
we describe in the joint declaration of 11 February 2014.”
The President further noted that “with the Cyprus
problem solved, Cyprus will undoubtedly be the most stable country in our
region, and this, combined with the existing high level infrastructure and work
force, creates additional incentives for prospective investors. We can make this
country an attractive destination for international companies, while at the same
time, a favorable environment will have a direct impact in the development of
our traditional tourist product as well.”
President Anastasiades also said that he is pleased that
the new leader of the Turkish Cypriot community “shares the same views and
visions. In other words, there is not fear – that should have never existed –
that the EU is a friend of the Greek Cypriots and an enemy of the Turkish
Cypriots. The EU is for all its European citizens. And the Turkish Cypriots are
and must become equal citizens of the EU like of course the Greek Cypriots too.
And this will happen through the safeguarding of human rights, through the
safeguarding of the four basic freedoms, as well as through and on the basis of
the principles, the values and the acquis of the European Union.”
