It is indeed with great pleasure and honor that I am today unveiling the Volunteer Monument, which is the minimum example of the significant action that volunteers develop over time, with a high sense of responsibility towards our fellow man and our country.
Allow me therefore, before any other reference, to congratulate the Provincial Coordinating Council for Volunteerism for undertaking this initiative, but allow me to make special mention of the scapegoat, the initiator, a man who has truly dedicated his life to altruism, to volunteering, the President of the Provincial and Pancyprian Coordinating Council for many years, dear Stavros Olympios.
Today's initiative is a sign of gratitude towards the volunteers because it pays the minimum but due tribute and gratitude to the person of each volunteer.
There are countless examples to which one can refer in which volunteers have made the greatest contribution, through their active and significant contribution, to the management of emergency situations and crises in our country.
It would perhaps be a considerable waste of time to mention. After all, we all know who were those who contributed to the social groceries at the time of the crisis, who are those who contribute to blood donation, who are those who stand by the suffering, who are those who with the pandemic made their presence felt again, but any mention would certainly be a reduction of the important work because it would certainly leave gaps, leave omissions.
Considering volunteerism as a basic pillar of a modern welfare state, an indicator of culture and participatory democracy, we sought to put it on a further structured basis without ever losing its character.
It is for this reason that investing in the already institutionalized and excellent relationship between the state and the Pancyprian Coordinating Council for Volunteerism, we placed during the days of Stavros Olympios again among our priorities the upgrading and strengthening of the volunteer movement through a targeted policy.
It is worth noting that in this direction, taking into account the experience and knowledge of all relevant stakeholders involved in volunteerism, our primary concern was to participate both in the process of formulating measures and actions and in their implementation.
On the basis of this cooperation between the state and the voluntary movement - and I note this because the role played by the leadership of the voluntary movement as a result of the contribution of volunteers is important - Cyprus succeeded in being recognised by the European Union as one of the few countries that have adopted a comprehensive policy on civil society and volunteering issues, while at the same time for the first time the voluntary movement in Cyprus has contributed with written proposals to the formulation of actions and policies at United Nations level. I do not want to make reference to what we ought and ought to do in cooperation with volunteerism.
I will limit myself to express once again the grateful thanks of the entire state, to the scapegoat and visionary of the volunteer movement, dear Stavros Olympios, to the Provincial and Pancyprian Volunteer Coordinating Council, but also to the entire volunteer movement in our country for the noble activity they develop, always guided by the feeling of solidarity and contribution to society.
On the occasion of today's unveiling, I would be remiss if I did not express my thanks to the Limassol Municipality, the dear Mayor and the Municipal Council for the concession of the space, as well as to the pharmaceutical company Remedica for its diverse, humanitarian contribution to the country.
I am absolutely sure that this memorial will serve as a reminder and motivation to take even more initiatives towards the achievement of a mission that unites and turns into an inspiration, action and force of altruism towards all those in need of fellow human beings. And having before me the venerable Bishop, I would also like to say what Christ said: love your neighbour as yourself. And this is what volunteers do.
(PM/NG)
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