Category: Cyprus News Agency

Cyprus President, Nikos Christodoulides, flies on Wednesday to Copenhagen where he will participate in the informal European Council, which will be held on October 1 and 2. He will also hold a series of meetings, among others, with Switzerland’s President, the NATO Secretary-General and Denmark’s Prime Minister.

Director of the President’s Press Office, Victoras Papadopoulos, has said in a written statement that early in the afternoon of October 1, President Christodoulides will participate in the Council meeting, about EU Security and Defence, while later he will take part in the discussion on the situation in Ukraine.

In the evening, President Christodoulides will attend a dinner hosted by the Danish royal couple in honour of the leaders of the states participating in the European Political Community.

On October 2, the President of the Republic will participate in the Plenary of the European Political Community, and in the debate on economic security.

Later on, President Christodoulides will hold separate bilateral meetings with the President of Switzerland Karin Keller-Sutter, NATO Secretary General, Mark Rutte, the President of Moldova, Maia Sandu, as well as with Albert II, Prince of Monaco.

He will then attend the closing proceedings of the Plenary.

On Friday, October 3, in the morning, President Christodoulides will have a meeting with Denmark’s Prime Minister, Mette Frederiksen, followed by expanded talks between the delegations of the two countries.

The President will be accompanied in Copenhagen by the Deputy Minister for European Affairs, Marilena Raouna, the Director of the Presidential Press Office and other officials.

The President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, continues to receive congratulatory messages from leaders around the world on the occasion of the national anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Cyprus.

On Wednesday, President of Italy Sergio Mattarella sent a congratulatory message. In his message, the Italian President noted, among other things, that ‘Nicosia and Rome are bound by a strong friendship, which I had the privilege of witnessing personally during my visit to your country last year.’

‘Renewing the hope that a solution may soon be found for the best possible coexistence of communities in Cyprus within the framework of the relevant UN resolutions, I extend my warmest wishes for the prosperity of both yourself, Mr. President, and your fellow citizens,’ he said.

According to the Presidency, a congratulatory message was also sent by Pope Leo XIV. In his message, Pope Leo expressed his assurance ‘of my prayers for all in your country as it celebrates 65 years of independence. I ask Almighty God to strengthen Cyprus as it strives to preserve peace and promote the legitimate aspirations of all.’

President Christodoulides also received a congratulatory message from King Charles III of the United Kingdom. In his message, King Charles stated, among other things: ‘My spouse and I extend our warmest congratulations to you personally and to the people of the Republic of Cyprus on the occasion of Independence Day.’

He noted that while relations between the two countries continue to grow stronger, collective action is imperative in addressing the consequences of climate change. ‘My thoughts are with all those affected by the devastating fires in Cyprus, and I am grateful that British forces were able to support your competent Services in their efforts,’ he added.

Among others, congratulatory messages were also sent by King Carl Gustaf of Sweden, King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands, King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain, Emir of Qatar Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Governor-General of Australia Sam Mostyn, President of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic, President of the Czech Republic Petr Pavel, President of Switzerland Karin Keller-Sutter, President of Peru Dina Ercilia Boluarte Zegarra, President of Ghana John Dramani Mahama, and President of Cuba Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively.

Cyprus celebrates on Wednesday the 65th anniversary of the declaration of its independence.

In the framework of the celebrations, a military parade will take place at 0900 in Nicosia. President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, will take the salute, flanked by the House President Annita Demetriou, the President of the Hellenic Parliament, Nikitas Kaklamanis, the Minister of Defence, Vassilis Palmas, Greece’s Deputy Minister of National Defence, Thanasis Davakis, and the Chief of the National Guard, Lieutenant General Georgios Tsitsikostas.

The parade will be held on Iosif Hadjiosif Avenue, with the participation of various units and aircraft of the National Guard, the Cyprus Police, the Fire Service, the Civil Defence, the Department of Forests and the Public Health Services.

Ambassadors and Defence Attachés of foreign countries and other officials will also attend the military parade which is open to the public.

The parade will begin with a 21-gun salute.

Before the parade President Christodoulides, was scheduled to attend a memorial service and lay a wreath at the Imprisoned Graves, lay a wreath at the statue of Archbishop Makarios III at the Presidential Palace courtyard, and attend a memorial service and lay a wreath at the Democracy and Resistance ?onument, at the Presidential Palace Park.

Cyprus President, Nikos Christodoulides, flies on Wednesday to Copenhagen where he will participate in the informal European Council, which will be held on October 1 and 2. He will also hold a series of meetings, among others, with Switzerland’s President, the NATO Secretary-General and Denmark’s Prime Minister.

Director of the President’s Press Office, Victoras Papadopoulos, has said in a written statement that early in the afternoon of October 1, President Christodoulides will participate in the Council meeting, about EU Security and Defence, while later he will take part in the discussion on the situation in Ukraine.

In the evening, President Christodoulides will attend a dinner hosted by the Danish royal couple in honour of the leaders of the states participating in the European Political Community.

On October 2, the President of the Republic will participate in the Plenary of the European Political Community, and in the debate on economic security.

Later on, President Christodoulides will hold separate bilateral meetings with the President of Switzerland Karin Keller-Sutter, NATO Secretary General, Mark Rutte, the President of Moldova, Maia Sandu, as well as with Albert II, Prince of Monaco.

He will then attend the closing proceedings of the Plenary.

On Friday, October 3, in the morning, President Christodoulides will have a meeting with Denmark’s Prime Minister, Mette Frederiksen, followed by expanded talks between the delegations of the two countries.

The President will be accompanied in Copenhagen by the Deputy Minister for European Affairs, Marilena Raouna, the Director of the Presidential Press Office and other officials.

The current events within and beyond our borders, the 51-year-long illegal occupation of one-third of the island, as well as the ongoing Turkish provocations, allow no complacency, emphasized the Chief of the National Guard, Lieutenant General Georgios Tsitsikostas, in his daily order for the 65th anniversary of the declaration of the independence of the Republic of Cyprus.

‘Having as a point of reference that the enemy is not at the gates but within the gates, we are obliged to operate 24 hours a day in a state of constant readiness, leaving no margin for inaction, in order to safeguard the sovereign rights of the Republic of Cyprus on land, sea and air,’ the Chief of the National Guard underlined.

He noted that the anniversary of October 1st ‘serves as an inspiration for us to remain committed to our duty and mission,’ adding that ‘freedom is not given, and the path of struggle and sacrifice never ends.’

He also stated that October 1st marks the recognition of Cyprus as an independent state and its establishment as a sovereign and equal member of the Community of Nations.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively.

The effort to strengthen the deterrent power of the National Guard will continue, President of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides said on Wednesday, in press statements following the military parade, in Nicosia, for Cyprus’ Independence Day.

He also stressed that the struggle continues to achieve our highest goal, which is none other than the liberation of our homeland.

The President initially referred to today’s ritual because, he said, it is of particular importance for the new generations to know about it. He said that in the morning they visited the Imprisoned Graves to honor all those who fought and gave their lives for our country. EOKA anti-colonial liberation struggle heroes are buried there.

He also said that they laid a wreath at the statue of the first President of the Republic, Archbishop Makarios, at the Presidential Palace and at the Resistance Monument for those who fought against the Turkish rebellion in 1964 and in 1974 in order to defend the Republic of Cyprus. The President also said that the parade is taking place to honor those who today defend the Republic.

He went on to say that Cyprus today celebrates its 65th anniversary, adding that the country suffered as a young state, but managed thirty years later to become an EU member state, one that is constantly being upgraded.

President Christodoulides also noted that our duty today is to do everything possible to upgrade Cyprus Republic and to also achieve our highest goal which is none other than the liberation and reunification of our homeland.

He continued by saying that at the same time, while striving for the goal of liberation, we have an obligation to strengthen with deeds and not with words all the power factors in Cyprus namely maintain a strong economy, rule of law, addressing corruption and all other challenges before us and internationally to have an open-minded foreign policy that proves that the Republic of Cyprus is part of the solutions to regional and international challenges.

He said that in this way the status of the Republic of Cyprus is further upgraded and, at the same time, we are also strengthening our negotiating status in relation to achieving a solution to the Cyprus problem.

The President warmly congratulated those who participated in today’s parade, saying that we are truly proud of what we have today seen.

He noted that the strengthening of the deterrent power of the National Guard begins first and foremost with the officers and personnel of the National Guard upgrading.

He also said that today we saw some of Cyprus’ new armament programs, adding that the effort to acquire new military weapons will continue and will be strengthened even further, utilizing the means offered by the European Union and Cyprus’ collaborations with strategic partners such as the United States.

When asked about the messages sent by the presence of the Greek F-16 fighter jets, the President noted that the messages are clear about the common struggle of Cyprus and Greece, primarily for the liberation and reunification of our homeland. Secondly, he said, Cyprus and Greece, as EU member states and states of the region prove in practice that they are pillars of security and stability.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively.

The Republic of Cyprus is a valued partner of the United States, said State Secretary Marco Rubio in a written statement by which he congratulates the people of Cyprus for the 65th anniversary of the Republic’s independence.

The State Secretary also underlined that his country is committed to a Cypriot-led, UN-facilitated comprehensive settlement “to reunify the island as a bizonal, bicommunal federation with political equality for all Cypriots.”

He noted that the bilateral collaboration “increases commercial trade, combats illicit financial flows, and strengthens regional security allowing citizens of both our nations to prosper.”

“We are especially grateful for the Republic of Cyprus’s assistance in securing the safety of U.S. citizens in crisis zones, one of our highest priorities,” Rubio said.

“We are also committed to a Cypriot-led, UN-facilitated comprehensive settlement to reunify the island as a bizonal, bicommunal federation with political equality for all Cypriots,” he concluded.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively.

UNSG met with the two leaders President Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leader, Ersin Tatar, last week in New York city. A fresh informal meeting in an extended format on Cyprus will probably take place in November, following two such meetings that took place earlier this year in Geneva and New York. In the meantime his personal envoy Maria Angela Holguin is expected in Cyprus the next weeks to prepare the new meeting.

Greece and Cyprus must remain united in the struggle for liberation and reunification of the island President of the Hellenic Parliament, Nikitas Kaklamanis said on Wednesday, in statements after the military parade in Nicosia on the anniversary of Cyprus’ independence.

He noted that in order to achieve the independence of Cyprus, thousands of Greek Cypriots had to sacrifice their lives.

Kaklamanis added that in honor of their memory, Greece and Cyprus must unite more than ever in the struggle to achieve the national goal, which cannot be other than reunification, withdrawal of Turkey’s occupation troops, finding all missing persons and achieving the immediate release of five Greek Cypriots ‘arrested’ on July 19 by the ‘authorities’ of the illegal regime in occupied Cyprus.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively.

The Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs has extended its warmest congratulations and best wishes to the Republic of Cyprus on the anniversary of its declaration of independence, in a post on social media, reiterating Athens’ commitment to a settlement of the Cyprus issue based on a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation, within the framework of the relevant UN Security Council resolutions.

“Greece, in agreement with the Republic of Cyprus, remains committed to a comprehensive and mutually acceptable solution based on a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation, within the framework of the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions,” the Ministry said.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively.

The presence of F-16 Viper jets over Cyprus during the military parade demonstrates once again the unified defence doctrine between Cyprus and Greece said Deputy Minister of National Defence of Greece, Thanasis Davakis, who represented Athens in the parade for the island’s independence day, that took place on Wednesday, in Nicosia.

In press statements after the parade, Davakis noted that he feels emotional because he is today in Cyprus and stressed that he is proud to commemorate with a sense of heavy historical responsibility and duty, Cyprus’ 65th anniversary of independence.

He went on to say that today we remember all those who fought for the freedom of the nation and especially the fallen ones, adding that we also remember that Cyprus’ Hellenism stood tall in every difficulty with self-denial, faith in democratic values and international law.

Referring to the Cyprus-Greece ties, he noted that they are historical, unbreakable and indestructible. Davakis said that both countries are determined for the common struggle to achieve a comprehensive, mutually acceptable, just and sustainable solution to the Cyprus problem.

??e Greek Deputy Minister also said that Cyprus’ reunification and withdrawal of the illegal Turkish occupation troops are the goal to be achieved through a solution based on the bizonal, bicommunal federation with political equality of Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, as defined by the relevant UN resolutions.

He also noted that the anniversary for Cyprus’ independence is not just another historical anniversary, but a living historical landmark for Cyprus, a symbol of courage and endurance and, at the same time, a response to those who attempt to undermine its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively.