The President of the Republic receives the credentials
Of the Ambassador of the Sovereign Military Order of St. John
of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta
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 the Sovereign Military Order of St. John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and
of Malta to the Republic of Cyprus, stationed in Rome, Mr Edward
Mier-Jedrzejowicz.
Presenting his credentials , Ambassador Jedrzejowicz said:
“ Your Excellency,
It is a great honour for me to present my credentials today to Your
Excellency in my quality of the second Ambassador of the Sovereign Military
Order of St. John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta to the Republic of Cyprus
together with the letters of recall of my distinguished predecessor.
At the beginning of my mission I wish, in the first place, to convey
with great pleasure to Your Excellency the very sincere a nd warm wishes from His Most Eminent
Highness the Prince and Grand Master Fra’ Matthew Festing for the
prosperity of your country and as well
as for the personal well-being of Your
Excellency.
Cyprus and the Sovereign Order of Malta have both a long history
which has been entwined since the times of the travels of the Knights on their
way to Jerusalem in the eleventh century. In 1291, Cyprus offered hospitality to
the Sovereign Order of Malta, with the Order’s headquarters being on the island
until 1310 before being transferred to Rhodes and eventually to the island of
Malta. In fact, the Order maintained its activities with sugar plantations and
other agricultural activities until the XV century.
Today the Sovereign Order of Malta has its headquarters in Rome, but
here on the island it leaves behind the castle of Collosus in Limassol and the
famous “Comandaria” wine as a lasting testimony of its presence. The opening of
diplomatic relations in 2012 was another important step to consolidate and
reinforce our historic ties of friendship and mutual respect.
Cyprus, due to its
position in the Mediterranean, remains a strategic place at the crossroad
between cultures and religions. Your Republic is an active member of the European Union and a country
where there is a mix of ethnic and religious activities – you are exemplary to
show how in today’s troubled times a peaceful solution of co-existence can be
found. As such you are in an ideal position to play a key role in the complex
and multi-faced dialogue between the two shores of the Mediterranean basin.
On its side, the Sovereign Order of Malta has also taken on new
issues.
Together with our widening diplomatic network, and the development of
the Order’s humanitarian diplomacy, we have taken on board new challenges faced
by our modern societies: in addition to its ongoing activities for the elderly,
poor and disabled, the Order has engaged in new projects such as education and
rehabilitation programmes and due to today’s problems in the Middle East, plays
an important role of providing aid to refugees and where possible, in
mediation.
Malteser International, our worldwide relief agency, is helping
thousands of displaced people in Iraq, Turkey, Lebanon and whenever possible in
Syria every day. It is providing assistance, mobile medical units and social care. In
Lebanon, where one inhabitant in three is a refugee, the Lebanese Association
delivers a range of support, with the added help of Malteser International. In
the seas off the island of Lampedusa, doctors, nurses and rescuers of the
Order’s Italian Relief Corps on Italian vessels patrolling the Mediterranean,
work daily to save thousands of desperate men, women and children. Since 2008 more than 42,000 migrants were assisted and thousands of
them were saved after floating adrift by our doctors and nurses . Recently the Order extended its mission to also assist in the Aegean
Sea.
During 2015, the Order also assisted refugees on the ‘Balkan route’,
most of them Syrians. Our activities continue along the main refugee routes from
the countries of origin and transit, until the countries of arrival, with
socio-medical assistance and integration programmes, active now for years in
Germany and France. And now also in Hungary and Austria. But the refugee crisis affects not
only Europe, but also Central America and South East Asia.
The incentives of religious-based organisations and institutions inspire
highly motivated, self-financed, and politically independent action.
It is in this respect that the Order hosted the “Symposium of
Religions Together for Humanitarian Action” in Geneva in May last year in
preparation of the upcoming World Humanitarian Summit in Istanbul in May. The
Order of Malta has a 900 year-old history of service to those in need, whoever
they are and wherever they come from. We have a presence in 120 countries on five continents. Our diplomatic
relations with 106 nations and 30 international organisations is the measure of
our international status. Another international initiative was the meeting hosted by our Order
at our seat in Rome between the two Libyan authorities of Tobruk and Tripoli.
Representatives of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the
Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs also attended. The meeting was a success as both delegations discovered they had no
disagreement on the issue of migration. They were grateful for the opportunity
to express their viewpoints at a neutral venue and stress the challenges they
face - such as the booming people-trafficking trade and the need to strengthen
humanitarian laws in the country. This example demonstrates how humanitarian
diplomacy can promote dialogue and understanding between peoples.
Your Excellency, by receiving me today as the new Ambassador to the
Sovereign Order of Malta, you are allowing us to further develop our
cooperation. We look forward to
finalising the bi-lateral agreement in order to develop joint programmes, in
particular working with your Ministry of Health and Ministry of Education, which
based on the Order’s international expertise and our respective talents can most
effectively bring benefits to the Republic of Cyprus and also third countries,
based on our shared common values. Please be assured that I will do my utmost to
contribute to the further development of our excellent relations.
Receiving his 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 Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order
of Saint John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta 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.
The relations between Cyprus and the Sovereign Military Hospitaller
Order of Saint John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta date back to 1291 AD,
when the Order took refuge in Cyprus, settling in Limassol, after a decision of
King Henry de Lusignian.
We stand ready to expand our longstanding relations and extend our
cooperation to various areas, especially in the field of humanitarian assistance
in which the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem of
Rhodes and of Malta is known for its expertise.
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 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
program 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.
Your
Excellency,
In welcoming
you to Cyprus, I would request you to convey to His Most Eminent Highness the Prince and
Grand Master Fra’ Matthew Festing 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 the Sovereign Military
Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta will further
flourish”.
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.
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