Press Releases

The President of the Republic, Mr Nicos Anastasiades, received today, at a formal ceremony at the Presidential Palace, the credentials of the Ambassador of the Republic of Moldova to the Republic of Cyprus, Mr Anatolie Vangheli.

Presenting his credentials, Ambassador Vangheli said:

“Your Excellency, Mr. President, it is a great honor and privilege for me to be received in audience today by Your Excellency and to present to You the Letters of Credence as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Moldova to the Republic of Cyprus, as well as the Letters of Recall of my predecessor. Allow me also to take this opportunity, on behalf of the President Mr. Igor Dodon, the Prime Minister Mr. Pavel Filip and the people of the Republic of Moldova, to convey to You the heartfelt greetings, along with the sincere hope that the friendly relations and cooperation between our countries will further develop for the benefit of both peoples.

Your Excellency, please allow me to address to You the most sincere congratulations on the occasion of Your re-election as President of the Republic of Cyprus, accompanied by best wishes of success in this very important position.

I take this opportunity to express my high appreciation for the dynamic development of our bilateral relations, based on traditional friendship, mutual respect and historical ties. It is with great pleasure to acknowledge that Republic of Moldova and the Republic of Cyprus have developed excellent relations through bilateral and international cooperation since the establishment of our diplomatic relations in 1992, including valuable reciprocal support within the international institutions.

Mr. President, as You know the European integration, is the main priority objective of the Republic of Moldova. To this end, all my country efforts are directed to the implementation of the ambitious reforms in fields that are vital for the European future of my country, thus showing political will and continuously strengthening its relations with the European Union. After the signing in 2014 of the most important document - the Association Agreement, with the support of the Republic of Cyprus, which insures more stability and security for the Republic of Moldova and its citizens, my country motivation towards the European integration became more evident. Let me express on behalf of my Government the deepest appreciation for the Republic of Cyprus valuable and permanent support in this regard.

Moldova and Cyprus are connected by a strong partnership aimed at promoting the democracy, rule of law, peace and stability, by fully supporting the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the states in accordance with principle and values of international law. Our countries count on international support, along with each other support, for the solution of their longstanding territorial issues. With reference to the Cypriot question, I would like to reiterate the message of full support of my government on the territorial integrity, unity and sovereignty of the Republic of Cyprus. I would like, also, to underline that we remain strongly committed to a viable and comprehensive settlement of this problem based on the United Nations resolutions, the international and European Union law, so that this conflict will know a fair, peaceful and viable solution, in the benefit of all Cypriot people and their harmonic co-existence.

Mr. President, let me use this opportunity to express, in our turn, the gratitude for the Republic of Cyprus constant support towards resolving the Τransnistrian conflict from my country, and especially for the recent support during the UN Assembly session on June 22, 2018 regarding the Complete and unconditional withdrawal of foreign military forces from the territory of the Republic of Moldova. My country further rely on the Republic of Cyprus, as full-fledged member of the European Union, to keep promoting the sovereignty and the territorial integrity of the Republic of Moldova.

As Ambassador of the Republic of Moldova to the Republic of Cyprus, with Your Excellency’s kind support, I would like to devote myself to further strengthening and diversifying of our friendly relations and cooperation, both at bilateral and multilateral level, further strengthening economic cooperation, trade, cultural and educational collaboration as well as in the field of labour and social security, consular affairs and bilateral legal framework. At the same time, I would like to express my firm conviction that during my tenure, the bilateral political dialog and partnership will be intensified so that the relations between our countries became deeper and more consistent.

Your Excellency, for me it is a great honor to be appointed Ambassador of the Republic of Moldova to the Republic of Cyprus and I assure You that I will make every effort to further develop and flourish the friendly relations between Moldova and Cyprus, in the benefit of both countries and peoples.”

Receiving the credentials, the President of the Republic said:

“Your Excellency,

It is with great pleasure and genuine feelings of friendship that I receive today your Letters of Credence as the new Ambassador of the Republic of Moldova to the Republic of Cyprus, as well as the Letters of Recall of your predecessor.

I would like to assure you that my Government, as well as I personally, will provide you with every assistance in the performance of your high duties. I look forward to working closely with you in building upon the amicable relations that already exist between our two countries.

I also wish to express my appreciation for the invitation to visit Moldova in the coming months. We regard this visit as an excellent opportunity for further enhancing our bilateral relations and enriching their content.

The relations between our two countries are guided by our common values and principles of justice, democracy and peace. The numerous bilateral Treaties signed by our respective governments are testaments to the level of our relations. We stand ready to deepen and enhance our cooperation, especially in the vibrant fields of business, trade, economy and investment.

We look forward to signing of a number of new agreements in areas such as combating terrorism and illicit trafficking, education and the protection of classified information, in the near future. This will allow us to further diversify our areas of cooperation for our mutual benefit and fulfill the potential that exists between our two countries, building on the friendship that we share.

We are convinced that, beyond the tireless work carried out by diplomats and politicians, the further advancement of our ties will benefit greatly by people to people contacts, as a result of social and cultural exchanges but also tourism. Moreover, our cooperation within international fora is steadily strengthening. We aim to elevate our relations at the multilateral level, particularly through our common participation in multilateral and international fora.

We also warmly welcome the determination of the Moldovan Government to move closer to the European Union. We stand ready to continue supporting Moldova’s efforts towards its European integration. However, the best advocate for Moldova’s efforts to come closer to the EU, is Moldova itself. We are certain that the continuation of reforms and the consolidation of democracy and the rule of law will greatly facilitate the achievements of Moldova’s European objectives.

Cyprus fully subscribes to the efforts to assist all parties involved in the “5+2” negotiations on the Transnistria conflict. We look forward to a negotiating process in which all sides will act in good faith and in a spirit of cooperation. Cyprus commends Moldova’s policy of constructive engagement on the issue, especially the support on the implementation of confidence-building measures. We hail such a stance as a key step towards a peaceful, comprehensive and lasting settlement of the Transnistria conflict, based on the respect of the universal principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Your Excellency,

With a renewed mandate by the people, my top priority remains none other than addressing the unacceptable current state of affairs with the continuing Turkish occupation of 37% of the territory of the Republic of Cyprus, since there is no doubt that lasting peace and stability can only be achieved through the comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus Problem.

To this end, on numerous occasions, I reiterated in the clearest terms to the UN Secretary-General, our partners in the EU, the Permanent and non-Permanent Members of the Security Council and the international community in general, that I remain strongly committed to resuming the negotiating process.

What is of course required is to create those necessary conditions that will allow the dialogue to resume on the basis of good will and constructive stance from all stakeholders, particularly by the Turkish side, in order to safeguard the positive outcome of the negotiations.

The above-mentioned were reiterated during my recent fruitful meeting with the Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General, during which I also stressed that I remain sincerely committed to negotiate a solution within the framework set by the Secretary-General, as clarified on July 04, 2017, with the same determination and positive attitude we have demonstrated since the beginning of the dialogue. Within this context, I do hope that the meetings of the special envoy of the United Nations which will soon take place with all other interested parties and stakeholders involved will allow the Secretary-General to be in a position to resume negotiations.

Taking this opportunity, I wish to remind that the failure of the Conference on Cyprus in July 2017 was precisely due to Turkey’s insistence on its long-standing position in maintaining the continuation of the anachronistic system of guarantees, the unilateral right of intervention, and the permanent presence of Turkish troops.

I also wish to remind that our side submitted comprehensive written proposals for each and every one of Mr. Guterres six-point framework, including on a new security architecture that would replace anachronisms and the strategic aspirations of third countries against Cyprus.

Having said the above, at the same time we should also not ignore the remaining significant differences on the other chapters of the Cyprus problem. Differences that can be easily resolved by adopting and respecting what is considered as our obligation: The European acquis.

It is only through adhering to these fundamental principles which determine that a member state of the United Nations and the European Union cannot be considered truly independent and sovereign if it is not free of any third country dependencies, that we can truly establish the conditions for prosperity and peaceful co-existence between all the citizens of Cyprus, in an environment of safety and stability.

I truly wish that both our Turkish Cypriots compatriots and Turkey will respond positively to the new prospect that is presented again upon us, taking into account in a comprehensive manner and without being selective, the provisions set by the Secretary-General at the Conference in Crans Montana.

I wish to reassure you, once again, of my determination to work tirelessly to reach a comprehensive settlement that will finally reunify our island after 44 years of division, ensuring conditions of safety for the future generations of Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, without any third country military troops or guarantees. A settlement that will satisfy the genuine desire of our people, especially of the younger generations, to live together and peacefully co-exist, collaborate and prosper in a European country which fully respects their fundamental human rights and freedoms.

And aside the obvious fact that the solution of the Cyprus problem would be first and foremost to the benefit of all Cypriots:

(i)            On a regional level it would turn Cyprus into a model-country of stability and predictability and would amplify Cyprus’ role as a security provider in one of the most turbulent areas of the world.

(ii)          At a European level, it would end the oxymoron of having one of its member states being divided, while it would also positively reinforce EU-Turkey’s relations and the overall security architecture of the EU.

(iii)         Last, but not least, the solution of an international problem which has been on the agenda of the United Nations in the last decades, will offer a beacon of hope that even the most intractable problems can be solved peacefully through the United Nations.

Taking into consideration the aforesaid, Excellency, and in expressing the deep appreciation of the Government and the people of Cyprus for the support of the Republic of Moldova to our continuous efforts to reach a just, viable and comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem, in line with the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions and the EU law, values and principles, please allow me to stress the importance in exerting Your influence, individually and through multilateral fora, to Turkey in order to revisit its intransigent positions and demands that are not in line with Cyprus’s capacity as a member-state of the EU, so as to create sound prospects of achieving an overall agreement.

Your Excellency,

During the past few years we have succeeded in turning an economy in distress into a story of strong economic recovery that gained international praise. The positive repercussions of an ambitious reform programme and the careful management of state finances are being reflected through, among others, successive budget surpluses, a dynamic growth rate of 4%, a drastic reduction in unemployment, consecutive upgrades of our economy by international rating agencies, as well as a significant reduction in taxation.

At the same time, despite the economic difficulties we have faced, our country’s comparative advantages not only remain intact, but have been further enhanced and expanded. These include one of the most competitive corporate tax rates, a significant network of Agreements for Avoidance of Double Taxation, a highly qualified and professional workforce and a fully EU harmonised tax and legal system.

The combination of the above, in conjunction with the reforms in the public sector and the enhancement of the tax and legal frameworks, resulted in renewed substantial investments in a wide range of sectors. The operation of oil and gas giants in our Exclusive Economic Zone, the licensing of the first integrated casino resort with an investment of more than half a billion euro, an impressive 18% annual increase in investment funds’ registration, the record numbers of the tourism industry in both arrivals and revenue and the commercialization of the Limassol port, it is evident that our efforts have borne fruit.

The challenge now is to keep up the momentum and ensure that Cyprus remains on a path of sustainable growth. To this end, maintaining the reform momentum is imperative. The entire planning for the years 2018-2023 is a continuation of everything we achieved during my first term in office. With this in mind, we will continue consultations with the parliamentary parties with a view to gain their support for our reforms programme, in the fields of public service, education, health, the judiciary system and e-governance.

We also aim to continue with the policy of tax reductions and provide new incentives, in order to further boost entrepreneurship and attract new investments, with emphasis placed on innovation and start-ups. The new Investment Law to fast-track licensing procedures for large investments and the establishment of new enhanced investment funds framework, are crucial steps in this direction.

At the same time, the newly-established Deputy Ministry of Shipping offers substantial support and attention to the already thriving maritime sector of Cyprus and we have no doubt that the Deputy Ministry of Tourism, planned to be operational by January 1^st of 2019, will enhance even further the growing tourist industry. Most importantly, we will continue to invest in our people and work with determination and passion to drive change, progress and prosperity in our country.

Excellency,

In welcoming you to Cyprus and in wishing every success, I would kindly request that you convey to the President of the Republic of Moldova, Mr. Igor Dodon, as well as the Prime Minister, Mr. Pavel Filip and to the friendly people of your country my warmest greetings and a message of sincere friendship and solidarity.

I conclude by reiterating my great satisfaction in receiving your Letters of Credence appointing you as Ambassador of the Republic of Moldova to the Republic of Cyprus, and by assuring you of the support of my Government and me personally to your valuable mission.”

(RM/AH/SCH)