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- Ελληνικά
The President of the Republic Mr.Nicos Christodoulides attended yesterday, September 23, 2023, the Annual Conference of the Federation of Cypriot Organizations of America, held in New York.
In his speech at the Conference, the President of the Republic said: "It is with deep feelings of emotion and joy that I am with you today at the Annual Conference of the Federation of Cypriot Organizations of America. With my presence today, my first as President of the Republic of Cyprus, let me begin by expressing my deep appreciation and gratitude, both from me personally and from the Cypriot people, to all of you, the members of our Greek Cypriot community in the United States, for the continuous, unwavering and extremely important support you have provided over the years to our homeland.
I feel strongly that I am among friends, among my family, I feel that I am at home.
I feel strongly that I am among friends, among my family, I feel that I am at home.
I feel strongly that I am among friends, among my family, I feel that I am at home. Every time I return to New York, I recall so many memories and experiences that have defined my later life. At the same time, I feel truly blessed to have had the opportunity to work with many of you, both during my student years and during my tenure as Government Representative and Secretary of State.
With the many experiences I have gained through working with you, I have had the chance to experience first-hand your friendship, warmth and generosity, your daily and unceasing struggle to preserve our identity in your host country. The struggle you all make to preserve the intangible cultural heritage bequeathed to you by your parents and to pass it on to your children. It is important for our young people to get involved in the communities of the Diaspora and at the same time we must give them opportunities, because they are the future leadership of our Diaspora.
I have witnessed many times the love, the pure patriotism and your sincere concern for our Cyprus and the survival of the Cypriot Hellenism, as well as the important work you are doing for the promotion of the Cyprus issue in the USA.
I have witnessed many times the love, the pure patriotism and your sincere concern for our Cyprus and the survival of the Cypriot Hellenism, as well as the important work you are doing for the promotion of the Cyprus issue in the USA. These experiences had a decisive influence on me to become even more interested when I was a student here in New York.
For all this, I wish to thank you today and salute you once again for the work you are doing.
As I have repeatedly stressed, the main priority is none other than ending the deadlock and resuming negotiations with a view to achieving a viable and workable solution to the Cyprus problem, as envisaged by the UN Security Council resolutions.
The fact that for 49 years now, the illegal occupation and division of our island is still in place is an anomaly, a black stain on the international community and our European family. It is also an open wound for Cyprus and its people and something I have no intention of accepting, nor can we accept that this is the future of our country and our children.
So the focus of our efforts from day one has been to break the vents and achieve the much desired resolution of the Cyprus problem and when we say this we must not forget that we are talking about a comprehensive solution, we are not just talking about removing the barbed wire that separates the territory and the people. We are primarily talking about the restoration of the human rights of all legitimate citizens of Cyprus.
The recent incidents in Pyla on the occasion of Turkey's attempt to expand the occupation, as well as the Turkish illegal actions to open the enclosed city of Famagusta, remind not only us, but also some in the international community, that the Cyprus problem is not a frozen conflict, that the current status quo offers no security whatsoever and is in no way sustainable. The passage of time creates new fait accompli and more difficulties and moves further away from a solution that can be accepted by the Greek Cypriots.
And it is for this reason that from the first day I took office, I have stressed and demonstrated in practice our readiness to resume negotiations from where they left off in Crans Montana.
And it is for this reason that from the first day I took office, I have stressed and demonstrated in practice our readiness to resume negotiations from where they left off in Crans Montana. We are ready for a meaningful, constructive dialogue that will lead to the reunification of Cyprus.
At the same time, I consciously choose - some people don't like it, they tell me - despite the inflammatory statements and provocations that are made, not to engage in a blame game. I do not think that this is the essence of the Cyprus problem; it is not communication management that we need. What we are exclusively interested in is to create facts that will allow us to resume the talks.
I am sure you understand the prospects of a reunited Cyprus without anachronistic guarantees, without occupation armies. I believe that these prospects are unlimited.
The benefits will not only be for our country, which for the first time will be able to enjoy and make the most of all the advantages that a workable solution will bring to an EU member state in a region of particular geostrategic importance. The benefits are something we are highlighting and it is important to highlight them. They will be important for others, including Turkey, Europe and the international community in general.
Consider the role that Cyprus, a free and reunited Cyprus, could play in promoting peace and stability in the Eastern Mediterranean and the wider Middle East and by taking a more active role as an EU member state.
And it is particularly important, I think, that the United States also shares our approach and recognises the important role of Cyprus in After all, a key pillar on which relations have developed in recent years is also based on this shared vision of regional security, stability, peace and prosperity, and in this context they recognize the even more important prospects for the reunification of our country.
Yesterday (22.09.23) you heard the former US Secretary of State speaking about the importance of regional cooperation in the region.
The proof of this is our constantly developing bilateral relations in recent years, which are also due to your efforts.
We set a goal, you and we worked together and in the end there were results, so it is very important to have a strategy and a clear orientation on what we want to achieve.
The signing of the Declaration of Intent with the US for bilateral security cooperation in 2018, the adoption of the Eastern Mediterranean Security and Energy Partnership Act by Congress in 2019, the recent renewal of the lifting of the embargo, the launch of a dialogue on defense and security issues at the level of Defense Ministries, the participation of National Guard Officers in training programs at military schools in the US, as well as the now frequent joint Cyprus-US military exercises, are just a few developments that demonstrate the political will of both countries for further cooperation in the fields of defence and security and are developments that some years ago no one imagined that they could be achieved, and they happened because we worked together.
In the context of our joint effort to further strengthen Cypriot-American relations, the realization of the goal of Cyprus' accession to the US Visa Waiver Program will be of immense importance. Significant progress has been made in recent months to bring our efforts to fruition and I hope that we will soon see positive developments within 2024. It is particularly important because we believe it will also create a new dynamic in our relations, particularly in terms of trade, business, education and civil society contacts, thereby strengthening our economic relations.
As part of our political and diplomatic efforts and initiatives to substantially strengthen our relations with the United States, we continue to rely on the tireless work of our diaspora, all of you.
Relations with the United States are in the spotlight. And our own people, for nearly half a century, have experienced the tragic consequences of an illegal invasion, with thousands of refugees waiting to return home, with the destruction of our cultural and religious heritage, and with people still searching for the fate of their loved ones.
49-plus years is too long. But, with realism and determination, we maintain our faith and intensify our efforts to achieve the goal of liberation and reunification. You can also be sure that your work, your efforts and actions arm and strengthen all of us in Cyprus, not only with feelings of pride, but also with feelings of responsibility."
Finally, the President of the Republic said: "I am, as we all are, truly grateful for your unwavering commitment to Cyprus. These are not just fine words, they are words that express the feelings of the Cypriot people and the Government, of all governments throughout time, and it is your work that encourages us to continue our efforts until the blessed day of the reunification of our land."
(PM/MB)
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