Filenews 18 November 2023
A special team from abroad is coming to Cyprus to assist the Cypriot authorities in their investigations into matters that have recently come to light, the President of the Republic, Mr. Nikos Christodoulides, said today.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the Mediterranean Symposium on the role of women in the economy, which took place at the Conference Center, the President of the Republic was asked about his reference in his speech during the Symposium that in 2024 the participation of women in the Government will be in the order of 50% and asked if in this way he announces a reshuffle. He said: "We are proud that 44% of the appointments made since taking office are women.
Let me remind you that during the election campaign I spoke of 50-50 and this goal, what we announced, will be realized.
The percentage in Cyprus is one of the highest not only in Europe, but in the world in general, and it is something that we will strengthen.
In my speech I mentioned that in 2024 this percentage will increase."
Asked to comment on British media reports that weapons are being transferred to Israel from the British Bases in Cyprus, the President of the Republic said that "there is no such information, our country cannot be used as a base for military operations.
Our country through its actions shows the humanitarian character of our approaches, this effort we are making for the humanitarian corridor, but also the great effort for the evacuation of population from the area, and our country was utilized by both the British and the Americans and we have a very good cooperation."
Asked if there is anything new in relation to the creation of the sea corridor for the provision of humanitarian aid to Gaza, President Christodoulides said that "we are moving forward, all procedures are progressing, especially at national level. I will also have contacts in the coming days, I will go to countries in the region, we are in contact with the UN, we are in contact with the EU and we hope that soon this planning, which is essentially the only plan currently being discussed by the international community, will be implemented in practice."
In relation to the reports on Cyprus, which came to light recently, the President of the Republic said that "the day after what we saw I had a meeting at a political level, I have requested the arrival in Cyprus of a team of experts from a third country who have experiences in relation to such issues and last night we had a positive response and therefore a team is coming to Cyprus to strengthen the Cypriot authorities. all those who have already started the investigations, precisely within the framework of zero tolerance for such phenomena.
Everything that has come to light will be investigated, and the reputation and credibility of our country which is decisive in our goal to attract investment, to have a strong and resilient economy that will allow us to have both social policy and the policy we want in the fields of education and health that is of the highest priority for us. We must safeguard the name and credibility and reputation of our country. And I am glad that my request has been positively responded to and a special team is coming to our country to support the Cypriot authorities."
Asked about the issue of serious interventions in Akamas and what the Government intends to do, the President of the Republic said that "I have already called yesterday the Minister of Agriculture, the Director General of the General Directorate of the Environment Agency to freeze, to stop any works, personally I have been annoyed myself by seeing the photos, so that we can see if everything that is being done is in line with what had been decided. And it was for this reason that yesterday I had the meeting, and the instructions were clear."
