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- Ελληνικά
It is a great pleasure to participate in the proceedings of your Annual General Assembly. However, I am even more pleased to have the opportunity to meet with you.
I have worked with many of you for more than 30 years in the construction and renovation of buildings and for several years in the Cyprus Joint Committee for Building Contracts (JCCC) we undertook together to correct problems and formulate fairer and more flexible working conditions. And that is why, after so many years of cooperation, I see in many of you not only partners, but also good friends.
My presence here, representing the President of the Republic of Cyprus, reflects his Government's commitment to continued cooperation, as well as our desire to support the construction sector, which is a key contributor to economic growth and improving the quality of life of our fellow citizens. With the support of your members, with your efforts to address the problems of all those working in the contracting industry, with your hard work you have contributed to the recovery of the construction sector and the recovery of our economy.
You have contributed to the improvement of working conditions and the safety and health of workers in the construction sector, to the upgrading of the contracting profession, and to the improvement of the quality of construction projects.
All of this is important, but I will stand in particular to highlight the paramount importance of occupational safety and health issues. We are particularly pleased with the good cooperation that contractors have with the Ministry of Labour and Social Security and the whole effort that is being made to reduce accidents. The signing of the Joint Policy Statement on safety and health training for all construction workers is a collective success of tripartite social cooperation, of which we all have a right to be proud.
Believe me, this approach will have a lasting impact on the high level of development of our country's infrastructure.
We therefore acknowledge the great effort you are making and reaffirm the Government's commitment to continue our close cooperation to improve the quality of the services you provide and to improve your working conditions. We want you to know that we will support every effort in this direction.
Friends,
We are going through a period of economic recovery and a reversal of the negative trend in the sector, which has affected the construction industry since 2013. However, we are also experiencing major challenges, such as rising construction costs, inflation, climate change and the green and digital transition. Together we will tackle them.
Together we must monitor what is happening and, through collaboration with all stakeholders, define strategy and implement policy to support the public interest. This includes our obligation to constantly listen to the needs of the construction industry and contribute to its stimulation and continued growth.
The Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works is proceeding with the implementation of the President's election pledges, which include both the completion of projects already started and the implementation of new actions to improve the quality of life of citizens.
The major projects planned have significantly revitalized the construction sector A total of 84 projects have been completed, for which 248 million euros have been spent. Currently, 40 projects worth €862 million are under way.
In parallel, the Public Works Department is planning and will implement major road projects. Fifteen (15) projects worth 112 million euros are in the process of being tendered, while 72 projects worth 1 billion 258 million euros have been planned and are being promoted for the next four years.
You realize that these figures are unprecedented for our country. And they will be implemented with state resources and co-financing from the European Union.
And as you all know, every major infrastructure project has its own challenges and requires special management. It also requires good cooperation, it requires the parties to understand the scope and the urgent need to serve the public interest.
All these projects belong to the people of Cyprus. It is taxpayers' money that is invested and they deserve, and have the right, to have infrastructure projects delivered on time and to the specified quality levels.
The Government is committed to serving the public interest and always works constructively for the implementation of projects. We are a state governed by the rule of law and this requires that all our actions are carried out in accordance with the law and regulations. Within the levels of flexibility provided by our contracts, we move constructively, with the intention of solving problems and helping contractors to complete projects.
But there are also red lines. First of all, as the President of the Republic has stated, Cyprus is not being blackmailed. We do not accept changes to contracts that are to the detriment of the public interest. Especially changes that may be challenged in the courts tomorrow, changes to terms that are essential to the contracts.
We will not submit to blackmail that asks for one thing and one thing only, to reduce what Cypriot citizens are entitled to. We will not accept, even if this creates painful delays, to pay more money to contractors without them being entitled to it.
I repeat, if financial debts are created through the fault of the state, then as a state under the rule of law we will honour our obligations and pay. But as we are honorable to our signature, so we demand that our partners honor their signature.
Therefore, in speaking here with you, we are addressing everyone and declaring that we are excellent partners until such time as we believe that the public interest is being violated. That is where we draw our lines, that is where we defend our rights, that is where we will exercise our legal rights.
Ladies and gentlemen,
In closing, I would like to thank the OSEOC for the work it is doing. I wish you all every personal and professional success. I hope that with the cooperation of all of us and with steady steps we will achieve our common goals, continuous development and adaptation to the new requirements of our times.
Thank you.
(SAP/GS/NYAN)
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