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Today's naval exercise is proof of the readiness of the four participating countries to work together in order to ensure security and stability in the Eastern Mediterranean, President of the Republic Mr.
In his statements to journalists at the naval base "Evangelos Florakis" in Mari, where the naval exercise EVNOMIA 4, in which Cyprus, Greece, France and Italy are participating, is taking place, the President of the Republic said: "Today's exercise is an indication of the readiness of the four countries to work together in order to ensure conditions of security and stability in the Eastern Mediterranean.
I note the fact that these are four member states of the European Union (EU), taking into account the efforts made by the EU to further strengthen cooperation on security and defence issues in the Eastern Mediterranean, a region of particular geostrategic importance also for the EU, as it is adjacent to the EU.
I am here to express the satisfaction on the part of the Government, of the Republic of Cyprus, that we are hosting this exercise in our country."
Asked if any messages are being sent, the President of the Republic said "messages not against anyone, I want to be clear on that. Our countries are pillars of security and stability, we are here to cooperate, to see how to create prospects for further cooperation and certainly this exercise is not directed against any third country."
Asked if the exercise upgrades the role of the Republic of Cyprus, President Christodoulides said: "Certainly, and the infrastructure (is being upgraded), it is something that we as a government also attach great importance to and one of our plans during our administration is to further strengthen the infrastructure of the Republic of Cyprus, making maximum use of its geographical location. You understand the importance of the Republic of Cyprus' geographical position both for the EU and for other actors in the international system. You know that our cooperation with the US has been very much strengthened for some time now and there will certainly be further developments in this direction."
Asked to comment on statements made by the Mayor of Limassol on the construction of houses in the areas of Agios Nikolaos and Agios Ioannis in Limassol, the President of the Republic said: "I have not heard the statements, so I cannot comment specifically on what he has mentioned."
What I can say is that at the end of September, the Government, through the Minister of Interior, precisely, will proceed to announce a specific plan for housing policy - an issue that concerns us very much - responding to the needs of society, not only in Limassol, but all over the country. A concrete plan, concrete planning and concrete incentives which we have been working on since the first moment we were in government."
Asked to comment on the Report on Turkey by the European Parliament, President Christodoulides said: "It is important, I particularly hold the report that the European Parliament supports our own efforts to engage the EU more actively at all stages of the effort, both in breaking the deadlock, but also in the resumption of the talks, if and when the talks resume, which you understand from our side we are doing everything possible to resume them.
The EU, always within the framework of the United Nations (UN) so that there is no misunderstanding, has those tools to create a situation beneficial to all parties involved in the Cyprus problem."
Asked to comment on the reactions from Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot leadership to the Report, the President of the Republic said: "It is the familiar reactions we hear from Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot community, it is nothing new. What is important is that not only the EU, but the international community as a whole is sending exactly the same messages to the Turkish side."
Asked about his trip to New York, the President of the Republic said: "Tomorrow I will be in Athens to greet a meeting of Cypriot shipowners living in Greece and from there I will go to New York for the UN General Assembly. You understand the importance I attach to the contacts that will take place there. What interests me most is to create facts, conditions that will lead to the resumption of the talks."
Finally, asked if there is anything new on the issue of his meeting with the UN Secretary General and the Turkish Cypriot leader, he replied that so far there is nothing.
During his visit to the Naval Base, the President of the Republic was briefed by the Minister of Defence, Mr. Michael Yiorgalla and the staff about the exercise and then boarded a boat and went to the French frigate Chevalier Paul, from where he watched aeronautical exercises.
(PM/EP/EXP)
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