The Cyprus Presidency is coming to an end, leaving a substantial imprint both on the country's European course and on the international image of Nicosia, underlined the Minister of Interior, Constantinos Ioannou, during his greeting at the event "Nicosia and the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU".
"We are in the last month of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union. An important national mission, which brought Cyprus to the center of European developments and highlighted its role as an equal and reliable partner in the European family," he said.
He noted that the Cyprus Presidency "has consistently served the role of an honest mediator, promoting dialogue, consensus and common European solutions to the complex challenges of the time".
He also said that in a period of geopolitical upheavals and growing demands for a stronger and more resilient Europe, "Cyprus has worked responsibly and diligently to strengthen European unity and the strategic autonomy of the Union."
In the successful implementation of this goal, "Nicosia played a leading role. In recent months, the capital has been the heart of the European Union," the Minister added.
"Heading towards the completion of the Cyprus Presidency, we can proudly say that Nicosia has successfully responded to the increased demands of this mission," he underlined.
He also said that "the presence of thousands of European officials, technocrats, journalists and representatives of institutions in our city also had a deeper political and symbolic dimension."
"Their physical presence here has helped to make even more visible the reality that Cyprus has been facing for five decades, remaining the last divided capital of the European Union," added Mr. Ioannou.
At the same time, as he noted, he highlighted the European dimension of the Cyprus problem and its close connection with the principles and values on which the Union itself was built.
"The capital has proven that it can deservedly stand at the center of European developments and represent the Republic of Cyprus with credibility and effectiveness," the Minister of Interior concluded.
CNA
