Brothers Maronites,
It is indeed with great pleasure that I attend the ceremony of laying the foundation stone of the Maronite Sporting Center, a multi-purpose complex of particular importance for the Maronite community, as it will not only house the sporting activity of the new generation of Maronites but also educational, cultural and other activities.
And I cannot but emphasize my satisfaction, since this magnificent project, which has been a constant demand of the Maronite community, is now officially on track for implementation.
And I want to underline that we have shown the same will for all the requests that the respective Representatives of the community, and especially the current one, have put before us.
With full respect and awareness that your community is an integral part of the history, the social fabric and the religious and cultural richness of our country, the State has stood by the objectives you have set regarding the preservation of the identity and progress of the Maronite brothers and sisters.
Already, the amount of 230 thousand euros has been allocated for the needs of carrying out the first phase of the project we are launching today, while in the 2023 budget approved by all the parties there are an additional 550 thousand euros.
In addition to the present, and in addition to the state grant of 100 thousand euros received annually, the Maronite community has benefited from other projects as a result of the good cooperation with the Maronite Representative, and the needs faced by our sister community, our brothers and sisters who are an integral part of our own community.
By way of indication only, I note. [*]The creation of sports facilities in Kormakitis, amounting to 464 thousand euros. [*]The implementation of public utility projects, both in the free and the occupied areas, concerning the upgrading of school buildings, flood protection and landscaping works, improvement and extension of the road network, infrastructure development, but also the financial support of Maronite sports clubs, totalling approximately 400 thousand euros. [*]The implementation of the Trapped Housing Repair Plan for Maronites and Greek Cypriots and the Resettlement Plan for Young Couples. [*]The placement of nursing staff in an occupied Maronite village, in order to ensure better living conditions for our stranded Maronite compatriots. [/LIST]
In addition, we have shown particular interest in the restoration of ancient Maronite churches, as well as the repair and maintenance of other historical monuments of the Community in the occupied areas.
In particular, in cooperation with all the competent Ministries, the members of the Bicommunal Committee for Cultural Heritage, the Maronite Archbishop of Cyprus and the Community Representative, but also with the significant contribution of the Commissioner for the Presidency and Humanitarian Affairs, Mr. Fotis Fotiou, the relevant planning for the restoration and repair of these monuments is underway.
And it is indeed with great emotion for all of us that the preservation of churches such as that of Agios Georgios in Kormakitis, Timios Stavros in Karpasia, Agia Anna in Medieval Famagusta, Agia Marina in Agia Marina, Agios Theodoros and Agia Marina in Kormakitis, and Archangel Michael in Asomatos has been made possible.
In addition, the Government has contributed the sum of 30 thousand euros to the Ecclesiastical Committee of the Ancient Maronite Churches for the maintenance of the Church of St. John in Fludi and 10 thousand euros for the maintenance of the Church of Prophet Elias in the historical monastery of the same name in Agia Marina.
Through what I have mentioned, the particular, keen interest we have shown during our ten years of governance in addressing the issues of concern to your community is demonstrated.
Accordingly, we have worked accordingly, expending all our efforts for the full restoration of your rights and those of the Cypriot people as a whole, as would be possible through the return to your ancestral homes and the recovery of your properties.
By choosing the path of peaceful dialogue we have worked for the liberation and reunification of our homeland, through finding a just, viable and workable solution to the Cyprus problem.
A solution that we have always set as a necessary condition to be based on UN resolutions, on the European acquis as an EU member state.
Because only such a solution will transform our country into a sovereign and independent state, a functional state, far from foreign dependencies, invasive rights and occupying armies. And I do not mention this only for the Greek Cypriot community. I am also mentioning it for our Turkish Cypriot compatriots, the vast majority of whom are in fact also under occupation.
We seek a state whose operating provisions will make it viable, with full guarantee of the human and political rights of all the people, Greek and Turkish Cypriots.
We have never denied the relevance, the equality with our Turkish Cypriot compatriots. What we wanted and sought through the negotiations is the creation of a functioning state that would be independent of any aspirations to turn it into a protectorate of a third power.
What we wanted is to feel that Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots do not differ except possibly in religion, which is an absolute right of every citizen. Unfortunately, the interventions of third parties and especially Turkey with claims that wanted to turn the state into an appendage of Turkish expansionist policies did not allow us to find the desired solution in Crans-Montana, at a critical juncture for the country and the history of the country.
Nevertheless - and I want to say this because we made significant efforts, significant concessions in the interest of the functionality and viability of the state - it is well known that any initiatives on our side have always come up against the intransigence and excessive demands of the Turkish side - because I cannot deny that during the days of Mr. I cannot deny that there was a sincere will to resolve the Cyprus problem, but what I am saying is that he was not and did not feel that he was an independent or Turkish Cypriot leader. Dependence on Turkey was a given, and this is a testimony in and during the negotiations with interference from Ankara.
What I would like to wish is that we will soon be able to see progress and that you, like every Cypriot, every European citizen, will be able to pursue your ecclesiastical, educational and cultural activities unhindered in your ancestral homes.
Being only two months away from the completion of my term of office as President of the Republic of Cyprus, I would like to publicly express my sincere thanks to the political and religious leadership of the Maronite community for the excellent, harmonious cooperation we have developed over the years.
A cooperation based on respect and appreciation, which, by confirming the fraternal ties between us, has enabled the development and prosperity not only of the community, but also of our common homeland.
I want you to be sure that I will continue to fight for what was the primary objective, even if I am out of office, it does not matter because it concerns every citizen and as a common citizen beyond the powers, what my permanent and constant intention is the struggle for how the conditions are finally created so that through a peaceful and creative dialogue we can achieve the creation of a European state based on EU principles that will allow Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots to live peacefully, creatively, to have a perspective and a future. But to live in a state that does not resemble regimes like Bosnia-Herzegovina, Lebanon or other bad examples of interventions by the international community that did not want what the citizens of the state wanted, but the interests of those who intervened.
I want you to be sure that I will always be at your side to the extent that I can, always building on this brotherly relationship that we have established over the years that I have been in the political life of this country.
I wish you all a happy holiday season and that the coming year will truly be one that will create the conditions for the reunification and liberation of our country.
(PM/MG/EHR)
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