Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is a great pleasure and honour to host and host a farewell lunch for the last time as President of the Republic of Cyprus to the Ambassadors based in the Republic.
At the same time, I would like to extend a warm welcome to the President and members of the Board of Directors of the World Consular Corps who are with us today.
First of all, I would like to express my most sincere condolences and deepest sympathy to the families of the victims of the recent devastating earthquakes in Syria and Turkey and especially to the families of our compatriots who lost their lives.
To this end, and as a small token of support, as you may know, last week the government decided to donate half a million euros to support international efforts to assist and respond to the needs of the survivors in Turkey and Syria, and, of course, I would like to commend the Cypriot people for the significant humanitarian assistance they are providing.
Ladies and gentlemen,
As you all know, my ten-year term as President expires on 28 February 2023.
In this regard, I wish to express to your governments and to you personally, including your predecessors, my deepest appreciation and sincere thanks for the close and constructive cooperation we have developed over the years for the benefit of our countries and peoples, both bilaterally and regionally and in international fora such as the United Nations and the European Union.
Excellencies,
Over the past decade, the Republic of Cyprus has gone through a series of economic and other crises.
As soon as we took office, we were faced with the imminent risk of bankruptcy.
We boldly took tough decisions of responsibility that led to a successful management of the crisis, allowing our country to leave behind austerity measures earlier than expected, to show promising growth rates, to regain its investment grade, to reduce unemployment, to restore workers' rights and to strengthen the benefits policy for the benefit of vulnerable groups of the population.
The implementation of sound fiscal policy has resulted in restoring the credibility of the Cypriot economy and promoting public and private investment channelled into new projects as well as projects that had been dormant for decades.
Above all, it enabled the state to emerge as a global model in successfully addressing both the economic and health consequences of the pandemic that struck humanity in 2020.
Unfortunately, the global health test was followed by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which has already completed one year. As a result, in addition to the inflationary trends caused by the pandemic, we have had to deal with the economic impact of the sanctions rightly imposed by the European Union and many other countries against Russia.
This in turn caused the energy crisis and the consequent impact on many other sectors of the economy, with forecasts pointing to recession rather than growth.
Nevertheless, and despite the negative economic consequences recorded on a global scale, our small country managed to manage them effectively, achieving growth rates of 5.8% in 2022, which is double the EU average, while for 2023, which is considered a recession year for most countries, growth in Cyprus is expected to be between 3-3.5%.
I am fully aware that during my ten-year term of office mistakes have been made - after all, it is known that only if you stay idle you will not make mistakes - but I feel really extremely proud that at the end of my term of office, as recognised by international independent bodies and global economic organisations, I will deliver a state that is, among other things:
(a) Economically robust and strong.
(b) Effective in managing and protecting vulnerable groups of the population, with a minimum guaranteed income, a minimum guaranteed wage and pensions above the poverty line.
(c) A state that finally has its own inclusive health care system for all its citizens.
(d) A state that through major reforms has reshaped its administrative structure, in areas such as local government, the social and judicial system, tourism and the maritime industry.
(e) With a multi-layered and credible foreign policy that upgrades and strengthens our status as a state, making Cyprus a pillar of stability and peace in the region and beyond.
And although I have limited myself to the minimum, I would be remiss if I did not mention the legacy we leave behind as a government, which is none other than the national project "Cyprus: tomorrow".
A project that envisages the implementation of another 58 reforms and 75 investments, with a fiscal impact of more than 4.4 billion.
Excellencies,
If there is one thing that saddens me deeply, it is the fact that despite my tireless efforts, I will leave the Presidency with my country still divided due to Turkey's decades-long intransigent stance, despite the compromises and constructive proposals of the Greek Cypriot side.
If there is one thing that saddens me deeply, it is the fact that despite my tireless efforts, I will leave the Presidency with my country still divided due to the decades-long intransigent stance of Turkey, despite the compromises and constructive proposals of the Greek Cypriot side.
There is only one way forward and that is the reunification of Cyprus on the basis of a bizonal, bicommunal federation in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions, international law and EU values and principles. Anything outside this framework, such as Turkey's position for a "two-state" solution would not only be detrimental to Cyprus and all Cypriots but also to the stability and security of the entire region, and would have a global impact considering what is happening elsewhere.
Your country's help in reversing the current situation is and remains invaluable.
What I would like to kindly ask all of you is not to overlook the Cyprus problem. A problem that must be resolved within the defined parameters: the UN Charter and UN Security Council Resolutions, as well as the EU acquis, taking into account the Republic of Cyprus' status as an EU member state.
To this end, I urge you all to work closely and constructively with the new President for a solution in line with the EU acquis and the parameters established by the UN.
I am sure that this cooperation and support will continue with President-elect Nicos Christodoulides, a close associate of mine who has served as Government Spokesman and Foreign Minister respectively in my government.
I make a toast to wish the friendly people of your countries and you personally continued prosperity and progress.
Thank you.
(MH)
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