Press Releases

Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Today’s ceremony marks the official beginning of your diplomatic service as the new Ambassadors of your respective countries to the Republic of Cyprus, and it is with great pleasure that I warmly welcome you at the Presidential Palace.

I wholeheartedly congratulate you on the commencement of your new posts and I wish you every success in the fulfilment of your high duties. Rest assured that both myself and the Government will do everything in our power to provide you with every assistance and support deemed necessary in your endeavours.

Your Excellencies,

We all agree on the importance of joining efforts in engaging in a positive way to promote prosperity for our countries. At the same time, the complex global challenges, that we all face, demand for an even closer collaboration between our nations.

Within this context, Cyprus attaches great significance in effective multilateralism and in improving the coordination and cooperation between our countries in order to address climate change, migration, asymmetrical threats, geopolitical tensions and conflicts, to name a few.   

Ambassador Gustin, this year we celebrate 60 years of diplomatic relations with Belgium. Since 1960, and especially following Cyprus’s accession to the EU, our partnership has reached new heights, as we collectively work to address issues high on our European agenda.

With Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ambassador Kovaćevic, I wish to assure you that Cyprus will continue to stand by your country and its reform efforts to become a candidate country in the context of its European perspective.

I would also like to stress that Bosnia and Herzegovina’s important contribution to the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus is highly appreciated.

We also note the positive dynamics in the development of our relations with Slovenia. Recent exchange of high-level visits is another proof that Cyprus greatly values the enhancement of our political dialogue.

I am glad to attest, Ambassador Longar, that building up our existing ties and exploiting their promising potential is a common objective. The same applies for our strategic partnership within our European family.

As regards Uruguay, our relations are based on a solid framework of mutual respect and understanding. Within the European Union, Cyprus remains firmly committed towards intensifying our coordinated efforts to facilitate the further development of the EU-Mercosur cooperation.

Ambassador Fagundez, I wish to express our sincere appreciation for your country’s significant contribution to the UN peace keeping operations in Cyprus which demonstrates Uruguay’s commitment to peace and prosperity.

With Montenegro, we look forward to further enhancing our bilateral framework of agreements, as well as strengthening our mutual support in various international fora.

Ambassador Vukadinovic, Cyprus commends Montenegro’s determination in carrying out its reform agenda towards EU membership in a decisive and forward-looking manner. It would be an omission, if I did not also express our genuine appreciation for your country’s long-standing contribution to the UNFICYP.

Concerning Honduras, Ambassador Mendoza, I wish to express our readiness to strengthen our ties with your country and explore new fields of potential partnership. As an EU Member State, Cyprus also strongly supports the EU–Honduras relations in a wide range of sectors.

Turning to Burundi, Ambassador Esperance, I look forward to working with you to further expand the relations between our two countries and peoples and to explore avenues of cooperation, both bilaterally and within the framework of international fora. Let me assure you that my Government will continue promoting a closer partnership between the European Union and Burundi.

Ambassador Ramirez Rios, we cherish our cordial relations with Colombia. I truly believe there is much fertile ground to develop these sound relations even further. We also fully support the enhancement of the EU-Colombia political dialogue, trade cooperation and joint efforts towards achieving sustainable development and support to peace-building.

With Vietnam, despite the considerable geographical distance with Cyprus, we share strong bonds of friendship. Ambassador Hue, our relations are growing steadily and there is still a great potential for further cooperation in a multitude of areas, such as finance, investment, maritime affairs and tourism.

I am also pleased to attest that the presence of Vietnamese citizens in Cyprus and their active involvement in the social fabric of our society has helped fostering greater understanding between our two countries and peoples.

Our relations with Peru rest on common principles, both bilaterally and within the framework of international organisations, in particular the United Nations. Cyprus is deeply committed to continue advancing the dialogue between Peru and the EU in an array of fields.

Seizing this opportunity, Ambassador Macedo, I wish to express my gratitude for your country’s important contribution to the UNFICYP.

Last but not least, I would also like to welcome Ambassador Said from the Republic of Iraq. Cyprus, as the closest EU Member State to the Middle East, has been a devoted advocate for increased cooperation between the European Union and all our neighbours in the Middle East, in order to tackle common challenges more effectively.

In this regard, we are pleased to see a firm commitment from both sides to implement the EU-Iraq Partnership and Cooperation Agreement. We also look forward for an enhanced Cypriot engagement in the reconstruction efforts in Iraq.

Excellencies,

I would like to turn now on the latest developments on the Cyprus Problem, since I am aware of your particular interest as regards the prospect of resuming the negotiating process.

Following the renewed active involvement of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, a tripartite meeting was convened last November in Berlin between Mr Guterres, the Turkish Cypriot leader Mr Akinci and myself.

It was a productive meeting which our side considers as a positive step in our efforts to conclude the “Terms of Reference” and resume the peace process in he framework of the Good Offices Mission of the UN Secretary-General.

Such a development would allow us to hold an informal Conference on Cyprus in the format of the previous ones, which would give the opportunity to all stakeholders to discuss the modalities that should guide the possible resumption of meaningful and well-prepared negotiations.

Excellencies,

Taking this opportunity, I wish to express my personal appreciation, as well as that of my Government and the people of the Republic of Cyprus, for your countries’ support and contribution towards our efforts to reach a viable and lasting settlement of the Cyprus problem.

Regrettably, Turkey continues to act as a “spoiler” by, amongst others, turning to military threats, illegal drilling activities within the Exclusive Economic Zone of the Republic of Cyprus, threats to occupy the fenced-city of Ammochostos and signing an illegal Memorandum of Understanding on the delimitation of maritime jurisdictions in the Mediterranean Sea with Libya.

Actions which have been condemned in the strongest manner by the international community and the EU, since they do not comply with the notion of good neighbourly relations, international law and particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and infringe upon the sovereign rights of third States.

Actions which, apart from escalating tensions in our already turbulent region, have also a huge negative effect on our efforts to resume the peace process and do not create the necessary conditions for all parties to engage in a results-oriented dialogue.

We do hope that Turkey will finally adopt a more realistic and constructive approach by refraining from actions which do not create the necessary conditions of establishing an environment conducive to having productive negotiations on an equal footing.

We also hope that Turkish stakeholders will finally acknowledge the overwhelming benefit of becoming part of our regional cooperation agenda and of positively working towards a viable solution to the Cyprus problem which would reunify Cyprus and its people and enhance regional stability.

Your Excellencies,

To this end, we call for the continuation and enhancement of your Governments’ support in exerting your influence towards Ankara to immediately terminate its unlawful activities and refrain from any provocative acts and work constructively with all stakeholders involved towards reaching a comprehensive settlement.

Despite the challenges we face, I wish to assure you that I remain strongly committed in engaging in a new round of negotiations, once conditions permit it, with the aim to reach a lasting, viable and comprehensive settlement to the Cyprus issue, in line with the European acquis, international law and the relevant UN Resolutions.

A settlement that will safeguard the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Cyprus, ensuring the peaceful and prosperous co-existence of all Cypriots, Greek and Turkish, without any third country dependencies, military troops and guarantees.

Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

In concluding, and in welcoming you to Cyprus, allow me to assure you of my commitment to work with your Excellencies in order to further enrich our bilateral and multilateral cooperation at all levels and increase our people-to-people contacts and ties, bringing our countries closer together.

 Thank you.

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