The Presidents of the US, France and Greece as well as the Greek Prime Minister have stressed their commitment to a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus issue based on the parameters set out by the UN, in congratulatory messages they sent to the President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, on the occasion of the anniversary of Cyprus’ independence.
US President, Joe Biden, said in his congratulatory message that “the cooperation between Cyprus and the US has never been stronger, reflecting the relation which is based on the joint attachment to democracy, freedom and human dignity. Together we promote these principles, including the promotion of stability in Eastern Mediterranean, the reinforcement of energy security and the expansion of economic growth.”
He underlined that the US remain in a steadfast way committed to a comprehensive settlement that will unite the island to a bizonal, bicommunal federation with political equality for all Cypriots, in peace, that will unlock the full potential of the island as well as greater opportunities for the future generations.”
“As partners in progress, I look forward in further enhancing our relations as we continue to build a better world and face the challenges which are the most important for the life of our peoples. I wish to you and all the Cypriots a year full of peace, prosperity and opportunities,” he concluded.
In his congratulatory message, President of France, Emmanuel Macron, noted that he looks forward “to the mutual consolidation of the bonds of friendship and trust that describe the relation of our two countries, as we together recalled last May during your visit to France. Also just recently multilateral military exercise EUNOMIA, that was led this year by France, showed how powerful the strategic bonds connecting us are,” he added.
Macron noted that “the relation between France and Cyprus is close, dynamic and looks to the future. It has its roots in our common commitment to unity, stability and sovereignty of our continent, as is shown by the unanimous support of the EU to Ukraine, which is faced with Russia’s unjustified aggressive.”
The French President welcomed “the convergence of the positions of France and Cyprus, in the EU and international organizations framework, including the UN and the Council of Europe, which constitutes a proof of our common priorities.”
He underlined that France “remains committed to the principle that an open, peaceful and constructive dialogue will open the way for a permanent and just solution to the Cyprus issue, on the basis of the parameters set out by the UN. You know that you can count on France’s constant support on this issue,” he said.
He also expressed hope that “the next months will allow us to deepen our bilateral relations, which are excellent, particularly in education, Francophonie, economic and defence cooperation.”
Prime Minister of Greece, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, said among others, in his congratulatory message to President Christodoulides, that “despite its ongoing uphill struggle due to the Turkish invasion and occupation of more than one third of its territory, Cyprus, a UN and an EU member state, constitutes a pillar of stability, security and cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean.”
He added that “the termination of the Turkish invasion and Cyprus’ reunification is a challenge that we face together and constitutes a duty and pledge to our Cypriot and Greek brothers who gave their lives for the freedom and integrity of the island, the missing persons of the Cypriot tragedy and their families.”
Moreover he noted that “the respect of the Republic of Cyprus’ independence, the continuous cooperation and coordination with the Cyprus government constitute the cornerstone of the policy of my country on the Cyprus issue, which remains our top national priority.”
“An agreed, comprehensive, just and viable solution on the basis of the relevant UN Security Council decisions and the withdrawal of all illegal occupation troops and the abolishment of the obsolete guarantors system remains our unwavering common goal. The Turkish and Turkish Cypriot intransigence and Turkish efforts to impose new faits accomplis against Cyprus will not curb our determination,” the Greek PM underlined.
In her congratulatory message, the President of the Hellenic Republic, Katerina Sakellaropoulou, noted among others that “the respect of the Cypriot independence, the continuous cooperation and the full coordination with the Cypriot government constitute in the long term the cornerstone of Greece’s policy on the Cyprus question, which constitutes a continuous concern and a top national priority of the Greek foreign policy.”
She stressed that “our goal is to withdraw all illegal occupation troops and to abolish the obsolete system of guarantees and unilateral rights of intervention in Cypriot affairs, in the framework of an agreed, comprehensive, just and viable solution, on the basis of the relevant UN Security Council decisions and the unobstructed implementation of the EU acquis ?n all the Republic of Cyprus territory.”
“The solution we are seeking can only be found through negotiations, in the framework of the relevant UN Security Council decisions,” Sakellaropoulou added.
Moreover she said that “as long as Turkey continues to insist to its unacceptable demands for a ‘two state solution’, to manoeuvres for imposing new faits accomplis on the ground, as well as to its ongoing campaign for an international recognition of the illegal secessionist entity in the occupied areas, there is no room for optimism.”
She stressed at the same time that “the Turkish and the Turkish Cypriot intransigence and the Turkish efforts to impose new faits accomplis will not weaken the full and active support of my country to efforts for the resumption of the negotiations in the UN framework.”
“In any case, I would like to assure you once again that Greece will in a decisive way do its utmost until the Cypriot case is vindicated with Cyprus’ reunification, on the basis of respect to democratic principles, human rights and fundamental freedoms of all Cypriot citizens, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots,” Sakellaropoulou noted.
Source: Cyprus News Agency