The sole objective is the liberation and reunification of Cyprus on the basis of the agreed framework of the relevant United Nations resolutions and the principles and values of the European Union, President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, said on Friday.
The President was addressing an event in memory and honour of Archbishop Makarios III, first President of the Republic of Cyprus, where keynote speaker was Archbishop of Cyprus, Georgios.
“Learning from the legacies of Makarios and following his path, the path of political dialogue, talks and assertive realism, we have a responsibility today, if we truly honour his memory, to continue and intensify our efforts to break the deadlock and resume talks”, President Christodoulides said.
He underlined that the sole objective is the liberation and reunification of Cyprus on the basis of the agreed framework and the relevant UN resolutions and the principles and values of the European Union of which the Republic of Cyprus is a member state.
Sp
eaking about Archbishop Makarios III, he said that “he is admittedly the greatest ecclesiastical and political personality in the modern history of Cyprus”.
President Christodoulides noted that the name of Makarios III became identical to that of Cyprus and made Cyprus an independent and internationally recognised state. He added that the figure of Makarios III became a symbol, without a doubt, for struggle for freedom and human rights.
He pointed out that in the person of Makarios III, the overwhelming majority of the Cypriot people put their hopes for a better tomorrow, adding that, as is always the case historically, he also gained opponents, some of whom did not hesitate to attempt his overthrow through the betrayal coup.
Archbishop Georgios spoke extensively in his speech about the life, work and character of Makarios III, while examining aspects of the modern and recent history of Cyprus. He described Makarios as a special personality, saying he was one of the people who rarely appear in the forefron
t of history to chart the trajectories on which nations and peoples will follow.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results.
The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres appointed María Ángela Holguín Cuéllar of Colombia as his personal envoy for Cyprus, to assume a Good Offices role on his behalf and search for common ground on the way forward in the Cyprus issue.
Source: Cyprus News Agency