Press Releases

Tuesday, 22 August 2023

It is with great emotion and pleasure that I participate, for the first time in my capacity as President of the Republic of Cyprus, in the Opening Ceremony of the World Conference of Cyprus Diaspora.

There are many and strong feelings that overwhelm me as I stand here among you today, among friends and associates, but the dominant feeling for me is that of gratitude to all of you, the expatriate Cypriots, who despite the fact that you live far from home and have been professionally active abroad for many years, have not stopped for a moment to fight, to struggle and to defend our beloved Cyprus.  And all this, selflessly and without actually asking anything from the homeland.

I was blessed –because it was indeed a blessing– initially as a student, to get to know our community in the United States, then I was blessed as a diplomat to get to know our community in London and Athens, therefore I know very well what it means to be an expatriate, what it means to make good use of the diaspora, especially now, where we are in a transitional period, if you like, with the new generation of our community, our expatriates, gradually taking the reins.

Through our many years of cooperation, I have come to know and experience the great and selfless love and concern of all of you for our homeland, for our Cyprus, and your efforts primarily for the termination of the occupation and the reunification of our homeland.

I am with you tonight for the first time as President of the Republic of Cyprus, and I would like to thank you and say on behalf of the Cypriot State, the entire Cypriot people, how proud we are of all of you, of the work you have done over the years and of all that you offer to our country.

Tonight I feel the need to refer to something that I have personally experienced, working with you over the last 30 years. I experienced it from the very first moment as a student, then as a Diplomat, as a Government Spokesman and as a Minister of Foreign Affairs, and I would like to mention it tonight. You may come from different parties, either in Cyprus or in your host country, you may have different ideologies, but at the end of the day, and you prove it through your actions, your party is Cyprus, it is our homeland and I really hope that at some point we will follow your example and act the same way here in Cyprus as well, particularly when we dealing with major national issues. Because for the major national issues there are neither parties nor factions.

And today, representing the state and the Cypriot people, I would like to express to you with absolute sincerity once again, our gratitude, because all over the world, all of you, Cypriots of the diaspora, regardless of the Government in Cyprus, are the unwavering pillar of support and promotion of our homeland throughout the world.

This year's Conference is taking place at a crucial phase for the Cyprus problem. Over the past few days, Turkey has been attempting to create a new faits accomplis, in effect extending its occupation of territory of the Republic of Cyprus. And it is not the Turkish Cypriots, it is Turkey who is doing this, and we must be the first to present the facts as they are. And if you look at Turkey's reaction to the UNSC resolutions, it is now clear to everyone that what is happening in Cyprus is not the responsibility of the Turkish Cypriots, but the responsibility of Turkey.

And I want to follow up on yesterday's consultations and the UN Security Council's statement, and express my satisfaction with the massive international reaction to the Turkish designs, the clear response to Mr Erdogan and the occupation regime, but also the recognition by the international community. Because we are not alone in the international system, we are not the centre of the world, we live in an open-ended international system and we have to acknowledge both the regional and the international data if we want to defend the interests of our country.  I consider it important to mention the recognition on the part of the international community of our calm and very serious approach that was aimed at, in addition to the prevention of the faits accomplis that we will never accept, sincerely showing our intentions, of our seriousness and readiness to resume the talks. Because the Cyprus problem cannot be resolved outside the framework of negotiations.

I know very well that I could use today's conference, following both the unacceptable Turkish provocations, actions, and the reprehensible behaviour of the occupying forces towards even the members of the Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus, to strongly criticise Turkey, Mr Erdogan, to follow the tactics of Mr Erdogan and Mr Tatar; Mr Erdogan, whose overall behaviour has been very aptly condemned by the previous speakers.

I consciously choose not to do so. I choose not to follow a communication management of the Cyprus problem. I prefer that the international community replies to Mr Erdogan and the occupying regime because, as I have pointed out many times, and I will not stop stressing it but above all work hard for, my only concern and priority, and I believe that this reflects everyone's wishes, is to end the occupation through the resumption of talks, in order to achieve what we all want, which is nothing less than the longed-for liberation, the desired solution and the reunification of our country. Because if we are really interested in the survival of Cypriot Hellenism in this country, it will only be achieved through the solution of the Cyprus problem, and I will refer to the framework and to what my friend Philip Christopher mentioned, which we have been discussing a lot since 1993.

Under no circumstances do we accept the occupation and its tragic consequences. This is my promise to all you Cypriots of the Diaspora, but also to all the Cypriot people, and particularly to the young generation of our country.

Therefore, I want there to be no doubt that I will do everything possible, intensively, and methodically, for a solution on the basis of the relevant UN resolutions, in line with the principles and values of the EU and the acquis communautaire, a solution of a bizonal, bicommunal federation. A solution that is functional and viable for an EU Member State and that will continue to be so after the resolution of the Cyprus problem. The EU does not discount the basic principles of the acquis. That is why all the previous seven Presidents of the Republic of Cyprus who worked hard to end the occupation and reunite our country, did so consciously because they knew precisely that the present state of affairs can in no way be the future of our country.

A solution that will finally make Cyprus a normal and functional state. A state that allows all its legitimate citizens - Turkish Cypriots, Greek Cypriots, Armenians, Maronites and Latins - to live in conditions of prosperity, security, mutual respect, and the application of human rights for all without exceptions. And only the EU can ensure this for us. That is why our accession to the EU in 2004 was the most important success of the Republic of Cyprus since its establishment in 1960.

For me, the prospect of a solution to the Cyprus problem, the effort for a solution, is the only way forward. The division of Cyprus as a result of the invasion and occupation by Turkey is a huge anomaly in the heart of Europe and cannot in any way be the future of our homeland. First and foremost, the present state of affairs does not guarantee the future of Cypriot Hellenism in this country.

Our efforts -I earlier referred to the international context, almost all speakers referred to the illegal Russian invasion of Ukraine and the reaction of the international community, so we need to know the international context that we are called upon to work in- are focused on breaking the deadlock, through a leading role of the EU, and this is not a random fact, and of course always within the framework of the United Nations. And I want to reiterate our satisfaction with the reaction of the Security Council yesterday.

And it is precisely for this reason that immediately after I took office, we launched a major diplomatic effort, aimed at the mutual benefit for all concerned. We live in an open-ended international system and no one will take any action unless it is intended to serve their own interests. Unfortunately, it is not international law that determines the policies of any country. Therefore, that is why we are focusing on the EU aiming at the mutual benefit of all parties involved in the Cyprus problem through the security, stability and prosperity that a solution to the Cyprus problem can offer us.

In particular, our aim is to link Euro-Turkish relations with the resumption of negotiations for the solution of the Cyprus problem, always on the basis of the agreed form of solution with a content of European standards. And we insist on the direction of the EU, because it has the appropriate toolbox, the incentives that enable it to lead us through a mutually beneficial state of affairs, a mutually beneficial process on the premise of positive developments in the Cyprus problem.

It is important that our European partners approach the issue from the same perspective, that any progress in Euro-Turkish relations, which is very important for Turkey, is linked with positive developments in the Cyprus problem.  We are not the ones who are saying this. For example, the Conclusions of the European Council, which was held last June, are clear, they sent clear messages. The Cyprus problem is a European issue and, as such, its resolution is a priority for the EU itself, which is calling for the immediate start of negotiations.

It is important that the same Conclusions note that the EU is fully committed and ready to contribute actively at all stages of the process and with all the means at its disposal, and expresses its readiness always subject to the strengthening of a new rapprochement with Turkey, if and when Turkey fulfils its obligations.

So, we are working for developments that will turn the European citizens of Cyprus into first-class citizens and not second-class citizens, as they are today, since after so many years we are still deprived of basic human rights and basic freedoms in our own country. And it is in this context that I believe that both the UN General Assembly in September and the European Council in October are of crucial, vital importance for the prospect of resuming the talks.

I have listened to all the comments, I have listened to all the positions, and I fully respect them.

I know the difficulties very well, due to my previous capacity, I know the problems, I know the Turkish approach, the Turkish view on the resolution of the Cyprus problem. At the same time, however, I am aware that the passage of time creates new faits accomplis. What we were discussing in the last negotiations in 2017, many of these issues were not discussed in 1985 because they did not exist as issues. And we must all realise that the passage of time is moving further away the prospect of a solution that can be accepted by the Greek Cypriots. Because any solution will have to be accepted by the Greek Cypriots through a relevant referendum.

At the same time, we know very well that the legitimisation of the present status quo cannot be the future of our country. And in this effort, in this struggle, all of you Cypriots of the Diaspora, as we have seen, have a very important role to play, as you have been doing and continue to do for many years.

It is a role that we as a State must support and strengthen so that our diaspora can be utilised to the maximum.

After all, many positive developments, whether in our bilateral relations with the United States or with other states, were initiated through your actions.

As I mentioned earlier tonight, this is the first time I am addressing all of you in my capacity as President of the Republic.

I took over the governance of the country at a difficult time six months ago, and I am very well aware of the high, and very rightly so, expectations of the Cypriot society.

I will go through these five years ready to work with all the parliamentary parties, with the people, with society, in constant consultation, without populism, without fine words, and without divisive approaches. My electoral programme is my social contract with the Cypriot people, and it is on the basis of this that I will proceed, both myself and all the members of the Ministerial Council, who I am happy to see are all here tonight.

In the course of our governance, our Diaspora, our expatriates, are very high in our priorities. I want to assure you of our continued consultation, exchange of views and support for your efforts.

In the context of the long-standing recognition of your role - because all previous Governments recognised it and I want to acknowledge this fact - I am today pleased to announce the establishment of the Diaspora Museum, which at a preliminary stage will be online and will host a very large volume of quality written, audio, audiovisual, television and electronic material, available since the first World Conference of Cyprus Diaspora in 1976.

The Diaspora Museum, as we will call it, is a particularly important legacy for our expatriate Youth as well, and I would like to welcome their massive presence tonight. It will be a useful tool for historical retrospection and study of all aspects of the Cyprus issue, as well as the activities of expatriate Cypriots in all communities. The first phase of the Museum's establishement, the online phase, will be carried out under the Memorandum of Cooperation with the University of Cyprus. And I would like to thank the Rector for this cooperation and for his hospitality today.

At the same time, I am today pleased to announce the publication of the Cyprus Diaspora Online Platform, which is divided into two sub-platforms, "The Cyprus Diaspora Record" and the "Learn Your Roots" page, with mainly an educational and entertaining style.

Among many other things, the Online platform will lead us to the realisation of a long-standing goal of the state and all of you, for the official registration of Cypriots abroad, wherever they are in the world.

The results, beyond the numerical record, are of crucial importance, since the platform will provide qualitative and other data that will be used by both you and the state.

The "Learn Your Roots" page is addressed to all age groups of our expatriates with emphasis on the Young Generation. We want children and young people of our Diaspora to learn about our language, history, religion, traditions and to maintain their bonds with our roots.  Through educational programmes, lectures, electronic material, live broadcasts, they will be educated on the history of Cyprus, the Greek language, religion, mythology, traditional dances and many more.

The platform will be available from tomorrow and it is important that you initiate the registration and in general to encourage our expatriates to register. 

I would also like to announce tonight the appointment of our former Ambassador to Washington, Mr Marios Lysiotis, as Commissioner for Expatriates. Mr Lysiotis, who has served in important positions as a Diplomat, either in Cyprus or abroad, knows first-hand the importance and significance of our Expatriates, the best ways to work together, your worries and concerns, and I am confident he will be successful in realising this important goal of our government.

I welcome you to Cyprus, I wish you every success for your Conference and once again, I would like to thank you, on behalf of the Cypriot people, not only for all that you do for Cyprus, but for proving in practice that in national challenges our party is Cyprus.