[PIO] Statements by the President of the Republic

We should respect the members of the Advisory Council, President of the Republic Nicos Christodoulides said today, when asked to comment on criticisms and publications regarding the issue of appointments of the Chairmen and members of the Boards of Directors of semi-governmental organisations.

In his statements to journalists in Inia, the President of the Republic, asked about the Kronos block and his next steps, said: "First, I expect to receive official information from the company itself. Let me remind you that recently, when I was in Rome, I had a meeting with Mr. Descalzi, the General Manager of ENI, who told me that after the completion of the results, he himself will visit Cyprus to inform me about both the results and the way of development. So, we can expect an official update. It seems that there are some positive indications, but we should wait for the official information and then we will take a concrete position as a government."

Asked to comment on criticisms and reports that appointments to the boards of semi-governmental organisations have been made on the basis of political criteria, the President of the Republic said: "First, we should respect the members of the Advisory Council. Secondly, every major reform, every innovation, in all countries, not only in Cyprus, creates reactions. Reactions like the ones we have seen. I repeat that I want to publicly thank the President and the members of the Advisory Council for the very substantial work they have done, but I also want to thank the dozens of our fellow citizens, who for the first time had the opportunity to express their interest in participating in the Councils of the semi-governmental organizations, and many of them for the first time will participate in these organizations."

Asked about the announcements he made today about Akamas, the President of the Republic said: "I want to thank the President of the community for the invitation. I was in the area and about 40 days ago. Important work is being done despite the problems they are facing, despite the challenges that we do not see in other areas of Cyprus. We have to call a spade a spade. Through their daily struggle, through their daily action, they are showing their faith in the region and I am here today to substantially support their efforts, and as a Government to continue to be supportive of the need to further enhance the region.

And I must also say something - by inaugurating three projects today, but also in the neighbouring communities a short while ago - that the residents of the areas understand more than anyone else, precisely because they live here, the importance of Akamas, the environmental wealth of Akamas, and all their actions, through the centres that we have inaugurated today, are precisely to upgrade the area even more, utilising and protecting this environmental wealth."

Asked about the Government's steps in relation to the suppression of crime, President Christodoulides said: "This is a very serious problem of concern to society. A most serious problem, however, which we will solve not through statements. We will solve it only through concrete actions, which we will have to announce once they have been implemented."

Enough words, enough public statements about this very serious problem. What counts is the implementation of specific actions and their announcement after they are implemented."

To a journalist's remark that he is the President who after 30 years has visited Inia and is close to the rural communities, President Christodoulides said: "It is important, the President of the Community mentioned it, that this visit is taking place after 30 years. It is not just a visit in response to a moral obligation or an institutional obligation. It is a visit - and it is not the only one, it is not the first in the region and in communities - that shows exactly the priority that we as a State give to the need to further enhance our countryside

And it is in this context that I announced that we will come back. I will be coming back with the relevant Ministers of Interior, Agriculture, the Deputy Minister of Tourism before June, just to evaluate all the things that we have mentioned and how they are being implemented."

Asked about the issue of violence in stadiums and the decision of the Cyprus Football Federation (CFF) not to transfer fans away from home and a journalist's remark that this decision was taken under pressure from the Presidential Office, according to a police spokesman, the President said: "I personally contacted the President of the CUP after the latest unacceptable things we saw in Cypriot stadiums and I informed him so that he could inform the football clubs that the intention of the Government, of the State - we cannot tolerate this situation any longer - is that if this state of affairs is not ended, all matches will be played without the presence of fans. I asked him to convey this message to the Clubs."

Finally, asked about the local works in Akamas and whether work will resume, the President said: "Of course, they will resume immediately. The issue is on the agenda of the Council of Ministers in February."

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

[/P]