[PIO] Statements by the President of the Republic

The Republic of Cyprus will take all the actions it has taken in the past with regard to the illegal activity of the Turkish Air Force on the island, President of the Republic Nicos Christodoulides said today.

In his statements in Larnaca, the President of the Republic, asked about the Turkish plane in Deneia, said that it was "an illegal activity on the part of the Turkish air force to record some data in relation to the buffer zone. It is something about which as of this morning we have all the data before us and the Foreign Ministry will take the actions it has taken in the past regarding the same incidents."

Asked if he is concerned about this activity, the President said: "anything in general I am concerned about, for all intents and purposes I am here to be concerned and to take action. And of course it is something that especially in the present context cannot be characterized, in no way whatsoever, as something that leaves us indifferent and that is why I said that we will take specific actions."

Asked about the issue of sanctions, the President of the Republic said that "we have been informed yesterday about some natural and legal persons - which will be announced today - by the US and British governments and these data will be evaluated very seriously by the competent Services of the Republic."

Asked about the issue of sanctions, the President of the Republic said that "we have been informed yesterday about some natural and legal persons - which will be announced today - on the part of the US and British governments and these data will be evaluated very seriously by the competent Services of the Republic.

But I want to send a message because in the last few days I have been hearing from some people, I have been receiving some messages, some people are grumbling that the Government is supposedly accepting the decisions of foreign Governments, the Americans, the British, and that we are endangering the relevant industry.

The message is clear: I am not here to cover for anyone. When and for those who violate sanctions and create a problem in the name of the country and the industry itself - because that creates a problem for the industry - the legal route should be followed. Whatever is given to the Republic will be evaluated and, if it is on the basis of facts, action will be taken. Only in this way will we protect an important industry in the Cypriot economy.

When there is a rotten apple, to continue from a comment I heard this morning, it should be removed. And I repeat, we are not here to cover for anyone. I want to be clear."

Asked what steps the government will take, the President said that "the first thing is to assess the facts, if they are real facts to take all those actions. Only in this way the name of our country, the credibility of this important activity in our economy will be secured."

Asked to refer to the issue of hiring a consultant at the Deputy Ministry of Culture, the President of the Republic said: "we moved within the framework that existed, the framework that we found and worked. It appears from the facts that this framework was not right and, yes, mistakes were made. I immediately met with the Auditor General. The next Cabinet will adopt a specific proposal, which at this moment, in collaboration with the Auditor General, with the Law Commissioner, with the Legal Service of the country, is being prepared and will follow the standards that exist, perhaps even stricter, for parliamentary assistants."

Asked if he believes that he made personal mistakes in light of a newspaper report on the appointment of his best man, the President said: "first, not to personalise anyone. It is not right to personalize anyone. And I want to say something. When I started the campaign, not only was I alone, but some people stopped even talking to me because I chose to follow a lonely path. And some people left their jobs to be by my side in this difficult effort and it was proven by the result that these people through their efforts, through their work got results. So, let some people keep hitting me, let them not hit any other person."

(PM/MB/EXP)
Contents of this article including associated images are owned by PIO
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or PIO
Source

Source[/P][/P]