The small steps that are being taken allow us to be cautiously optimistic about the resumption of substantive talks on the Cyprus problem, said President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, noting that he does not underestimate the challenges and difficulties.
In his commemorative speech at the first National Memorial Service for the heroes of the Saranti community, held on Sunday, the President of the Republic said that ‘the result of our efforts sustains hope and allows us, through assertive realism, to continue our efforts to see our homeland liberated.’
Referring to the sacrifice of the heroes, the President said that “to justify their sacrifice, we must work to restore the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Republic of Cyprus, through a solution that will liberate our homeland from the shackles of Turkish occupation, reunite it, and make it safe and prosperous for all our people.”
To achieve this ultimate goal, he said, he has been working since the first day of his election, based on a specific plan and strategy.
“With our initiatives, our dynamic foreign policy, the strengthening of ties with strategic partners, our role within the European Union, but also in the wider region, with the change in the image and reputation of our country and the strengthening of our economy, with the reinforcement of all the factors of power of our homeland, we have succeeded in reactivating the international factor and initiating processes that we hope will lead to the goal of resuming substantive talks,” he stressed.
“Without downplaying the challenges and difficulties, I believe that the small steps being taken allow us to be cautiously optimistic. The result of our efforts sustains our hope and allows us, through assertive realism, to continue our efforts to see our homeland liberated,’ he noted.
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.