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As he added, "the Russian invasion of Ukraine is more than an attack on Ukraine, it is an attack on the right of every free country to determine its own future."
The Chairman of the Democratic Rally was speaking at the Economist's sixth business conference at the London Stock Exchange building entitled "The Return for Cyprus and Greece".
He pointed out to the international audience that Cypriots have their own experience of what war and refugeeism means, noting that in 1974 Turkey invaded with the same justification used by the Russians, namely then about protecting Turkish Cypriots and now about protecting Russian-speaking people.
"Just as Cyprus is aligned with the West[/B] and shows its solidarity with the Ukrainian people, the West should also follow the same values and principles and not use different criteria in dealing with the Cyprus issue. Values should be put above everything and should never be discounted," Neophytou said.
He also pointed out the threat to Europe's energy security and the need to address it.
He went on to note that in the years before the pandemic, which disrupted lifestyles and norms, Cyprus had managed "with hard work and determination" to fully reverse the recession and budget deficits it was facing.
So now, the DISY President added, the country is on the right track to reverse the effects of the pandemic crisis, noting, among other things, a growth rate of 6% in the last quarter of 2021, a rate significantly higher than other EU member states.
He also said that the forecast for growth in 2023 is that it will reach 3.5%, higher than the eurozone and EU average.
Nevertheless, Neophytou stressed, this is not a time for complacency, but for continued reforms towards a truly modern state. Reforms, he added, are already underway, such as for local government. He noted as areas of emphasis for reforms the public sector, the judiciary and the digitalisation of the country for the benefit of citizens and the business environment.
"Cyprus could become the European Silicon Valley. Our goal is to further improve the conditions for a modern, competitive country, with a business-friendly environment that supports start-ups and other businesses. (...) . Our strategic objective remains to continue the macroeconomic, fiscal and financial stability of our country", Neophytou concluded.
The conference will also be attended by the High Commissioner of the Republic of Cyprus to the United Kingdom Andreas Kakouris, the Head of PwC Cyprus Philippos Sώσειlos, the President of the Cyprus Investment Funds Association (CIFA) Andreas Yasemidis, the President of the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission Demetra Kalogirou and the Head of Invest Cyprus Yannis Matsis.
During his two-day visit to London, Mr. Neophytou also has a meeting with the Secretary of State for Europe James Cleverley at the Foreign Office, a round table discussion with MPs organised by the pro-Cypriot Conservative MP for North London Theresa Villiers, a meeting with the chairman of the ruling Conservative Party Oliver Downden, with the head of the All-Party Parliamentary Committee on Cyprus Sir Roger Gale, as well as contacts with members of the community.
Source: CNA
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