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The Republic of Cyprus is today
a modern, well-structured European state, that is financially robust, a state
which through a network of interstate alliances constitutes a pillar of
stability and peace, the President of the Republic, Mr Nicos Anastasiades,
said tonight, addressing the people of Cyprus in a televised message, on the
occasion of the 61st anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of
Cyprus.
In his address, the President
said, among other things, that ‘’ In continuing the efforts of my predecessors,
from the moment I assumed my duties, I strived in every possible way and
making use of all available possibilities, to reverse the present situation
and achieve the reunification of our homeland.
To achieve a solution that will
not leave behind winners or losers, that will respect the concerns and
special characteristics of both communities, that will protect the
fundamental freedoms, and will honour the human rights of all Cypriot
citizens.
A solution that will be based
on the High-Level Agreements, the United Nations resolutions, and the
principles and values of the European Union. A solution that will not
dissolve the Republic of Cyprus but through its evolution will lead to a
federal system of governance, beyond anachronistic systems of guarantees or
any form of dependence on third parties.
In order to avoid painful
experiences of the past, what we seek out is the safeguarding of the
functionality of the state which will guarantee an enduring and creative
future for all legal citizens of the Republic of Cyprus.
It is with these positions that
I participated in the trilateral meeting convened by the UN
Secretary-General, last week, in New York.
Unfortunately, for yet one more
time, as so many times in the past, the intransigence and untrustworthiness
of the Turkish and the Turkish Cypriot leadership were ascertained.
Their persistence in refusing
to allow the talks to begin, unless prior separate sovereignty and equal
status with the Republic of Cyprus was being recognized to them (to the
illegal regime in Turkish occupied Cyprus).
Equally provocative was their
backing away from everything that has been agreed upon following a proposal
by the Secretary-General for the appointment of a Special Envoy.’’
Addressing the Turkish
Cypriots, the President said that ‘’my respect for the Turkish Cypriot
community is demonstrated by the policies of the Government toward the
Turkish Cypriots, as well as by the proposals I submitted and submit in order
for a solution to meet your concerns as well.
Extremist positions aiming at a
two-state solution, with the partition of our homeland, are not and should
not be the choice of any Cypriot patriot.
The European Union, a member of
which is our common homeland, is the only one that can safeguard the peaceful
coexistence, the respect for human rights, and the prospect for an enduring
future for us and also for future generations.
After 61 years of life, I am
proud because the Republic of Cyprus is today a modern, well-structured
European state. A state that is financially robust, a state which through a
network of interstate alliances constitutes a pillar of stability and
peace.’’
(RMEH)
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