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We say goodbye in a few hours
to a year that will be recorded as one of the most destructive in the modern
history of humanity, at times of peace.
The coronavirus pandemic, the
invisible enemy, as it has been called, resulted in the loss of two million
human lives, struck the health systems even of countries considered among the
most advanced in the sector, led the world economy into an unprecedented
crisis, deprived billions of citizens of their human freedoms and led
millions of businesses and workers to bankruptcy and job losses.
The hopes that halting the
first wave would put an end to the ordeal, unfortunately, have not come true,
as a second more lethal spread of the virus has led states to take harsh
measures of total lockdowns.
Compatriots,
The pandemic could not have
left our homeland unscathed.
It is a well-known fact that
from the very first moment the Government, with a series of measures, has
succeeded in successfully tackling the first wave.
It is this same battle we are
fighting today, to tackle the most aggressive phase of the pandemic, by
avoiding the harsher measures taken by European countries as a whole, and
beyond.
Our priority is the health and
life of citizens, the safeguarding of the country’s health system, but also,
of course, not disregarding the viability of businesses, the saving of jobs
and the protection of vulnerable groups.
At the same time, I fully
understand the majority of conscientious citizens, who are subjected to the
ordeal caused by the measures.
I know that tonight some of you
will be alone without parents, without children or grandchildren or even dear
friends.
I completely feel your
discomfort because I am going through the same ordeal myself.
At the same time, I know that
some people carry more weight and sacrifices as a result of the measures.
That is why I feel compelled to
assure them that the Government will continue to support them generously.
In the next few days, in
addition to the programmes of the Ministry of Labour, Welfare and Social
Insurance, the Minister of Finance will announce new financial support
measures.
Dear friends,
I would like to express my deep
gratitude and thanks to the vast majority of conscientious citizens who are
undergoing these ordeals, with a sense of responsibility and solidarity.
What I feel is absolutely
necessary, however, is to express, on behalf of all of us, our deepest
gratitude to the heroes of the front line. To those who strive to give us
hope, to help all those who suffer, to stand by each and every one of us.
From the bottom of my heart I thank everyone and I am grateful to all.
At the same time, being the one
leading and bearing the responsibility for making decisions, I feel the need
to ask for your leniency and understanding, but unfortunately, as you can
appreciate, there are no other options.
I know that the long lasting
ordeal often exhausts people’s patience, causes discomfort and tires people.
The epidemiological situation,
however, unfortunately, does not allow for relaxation, because this would
lead to the tougher measures that the other countries have adopted.
This is why I would like to ask
you not to give in. The struggle that all mankind is fighting is a struggle
for life.
Remember what has been said in
difficult times: the darkest hour is just before the dawn.
And I say this because, thanks
to science, the countdown has begun to effectively tackle the pandemic that
will allow us to live again the way of life we were deprived of.
But until we get there, what
matters is that we minimise the loss of human life by obeying the measures.
Compatriots,
Our survival is threatened not
only by the invisible enemy, but also by the visible danger of the military
occupation, the threats and the illegal acts of Turkey.
In addition to our efforts to
manage the pandemic, our top priority remains the overall settlement of the
Cyprus problem which, I would like to stress, should take into account, in
addition to the concerns of the Turkish Cypriot community, also the
legitimate concerns of the Greek Cypriots.
A settlement that, above all,
will lead to a solution that ensures the functionality and therefore the
viability of the state and allows for coexistence with mutual respect, in
conditions of peace, security, stability and progress, without foreign
dependencies.
This vision I conveyed to the
Secretary-General of the United Nations and to the new Turkish Cypriot
leader, making clear my determination and political will to participate in a
new creative dialogue, based on what has been agreed to date, as part of a
new initiative of the Secretary-General.
In this initiative, I am
confident that I will have the support of all the political forces.
What I want to assure you, at
the same time, is that I am not unaware that the final judge of any agreement
will be the Cypriot citizens to whom I am accountable.
Another priority of ours is the
continuation of reforms concerning the modernisation of our country.
I am sure that the political
forces, besides any ideological differences, which are respected, will work
together so that in the new year the important reforms that will benefit all
will be implemented.
Reforms concerning, inter alia:
- The
adoption of pending bills for the effective fight against corruption.
- The
Public Service.
- Local
Government.
- The
justice system.
- The
reform of the education system.
- The
completion of the reform of the National Health System.
- The
creation of an independent administrative structure for Culture, through
the creation of a relevant Deputy Ministry.
- The
reorganisation, improvement and upgrading of the welfare state, through
the creation of a Deputy Ministry of Social Welfare.
Reforms that, as a state, as
Government and as Parliament, we owe to the citizens who elected us.
Compatriots,
I would like once again to
convey my deepest feelings of respect and appreciation to each and every one
of you, with the wish that the new year will bring to our country peace,
health and the hope for a stable and secure future for all.
Happy New Year.
(MG/EH/MPO/II)
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