Your Excellency, Mr. President of the Republic of Cyprus,
Thank you for your warm welcome, your hospitality and your kind words. It is with great joy and emotion that I visit Cyprus once again.
At the same time, however, this joy is tempered by the inevitable retrospection on the history of Cyprus and the harsh reality of today. This is because my first official visit as President of the Hellenic Republic is taking place while the illegal Turkish occupation of more than a third of the territory of the Republic of Cyprus still continues for over half a century. An occupation that has been transformed into a wall which in fact divides a European capital.
The end of the occupation within the framework of a comprehensive, just, viable and functional solution to the Cyprus problem is our common goal and I firmly believe that it can be achieved.
I am absolutely certain that the unacceptable views and claims that seek to legitimize the fait accompli of the invasion and occupation will not diminish our unwavering common commitment to the objective of resuming negotiations for a mutually accepted solution to the Cyprus issue, within the framework of the relevant UN resolutions. A solution that will free the Republic of Cyprus and the Cypriot people from the occupying forces and from the anachronistic system of guarantees and rights of intervention by Turkey or anyone else in Cypriot affairs, which will guarantee the rights of the displaced persons and their families and which will allow the unhindered implementation of the European acquis throughout the entire territory of the Republic of Cyprus.
Greece and Cyprus will continue to actively and fully support the efforts to resume negotiations under the auspices of the UN Secretary General. We hope that all sides will move in this direction, as this is in the interest and the well-being of all the Cypriot people.
Of course, the cooperation between our countries goes far beyond the Cyprus issue and covers a wide range of areas, including energy, education, culture, health, environment, civil protection, labor and digital policy, among others. The 2nd Intergovernmental Summit held last November sealed the excellent bilateral cooperation in all areas and laid the foundations for further strengthening it in order to further improve the lives of the citizens of both countries.
Mr. President,
Despite the open wound of the Cyprus issue, the Republic of Cyprus is a prosperous country within the EU, and plays an increasingly important role as a pillar of stability, peace and prosperity in the Eastern Mediterranean, through the trilateral and other multilateral cooperation schemes in the region that we have jointly developed.
I look forward to the moment when the visit of the President of the Hellenic Republic will take place in a reunited Cyprus. A reunited Cyprus, for the benefit of all Cypriots, Greek Cypriots, Turkish Cypriots, Armenians, Maronites and Latins. A reunited Cyprus, for the benefit of the restoration of international legality, stability, security and prosperity of our wider shared region of the Eastern Mediterranean.
With the strong conviction that our common goal will be achieved, I raise my glass wishing you personally health and happiness and to all citizens of the Republic of Cyprus progress and prosperity.
