Press Releases

The President of the Republic, Mr Nicos Anastasiades, received today, Wednesday, November 14, 2018, at a formal ceremony at the Presidential Palace, the credentials of the High Commissioner of the Commonwealth of Australia, Mr Samuel Beever.

Presenting his credentials, Ambassador Beever said:

“Your Excellency,

It is a very great honour for me to present my credentials to you as Australian High Commissioner to the Republic of Cyprus. I am pleased to convey to you the best wishes of the Government of Australia, on behalf of the Australian people. As I assume my duties, I am conscious of and animated by the strong bonds of history and fellowship between our nations and peoples.

Australia is proud to be home to the second-largest overseas Cypriot community. The resilience of the first Cypriot prospectors who in the 1850’s sought their fortune in Australia’s gold fields set a path of entrepreneurship that future generations would follow. Cypriots from all communities of the island who made the long journey south have contributed greatly to modern multicultural Australian society. They have become community and political leaders, built businesses, and excelled in academia, sport, the arts and entertainment. The same is true in reverse; the repatriated Cypriot-Australian community has made and continues to make laudable contributions to government, business and society here.

Your Excellency,

The connections between our people provide the foundation for a vibrant and multi-faceted bilateral relationship. We are robust democracies and fierce advocates for the global rules based order. Our shared national foundations of freedom, equality, the rule of law and mutual respect are manifest in our common approach to global issues. Whether through the United Nations, the World Trade Organization or indeed through the Commonwealth, our cooperation has served the cause of peace and prosperity throughout the world. Australia’s inaugural membership of the United Nations Human Rights Council from 2018-2020 reflects our commitment to the aims and purposes of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. During our term, we will seek opportunities to work together with Cyprus to advance gender equality, promote good governance, protect freedom of expression, advance the rights of indigenous peoples, and promote strong national human rights institutions.

As island nations, the prosperity of Cypriots and Australians is dependent on trade. That is why we raise our voices to resist protectionism and to promote open markets. The commencement of the negotiation of a Free Trade Agreement between Australia and the European Union demonstrates our shared confidence in the benefits of trade. Australia appreciated Cyprus’ support to secure the negotiation mandate and we fully expect a robust and positive engagement throughout the negotiation phase. An ambitious and comprehensive free trade agreement will be a win for both countries; generating new market opportunities for goods and services, boosting investment flows that are crucial to the creation of future jobs, tax revenue and exports, and giving greater choice and competition to consumers in Cyprus and Australia. At an enterprise level, I look forward to building stronger economic bridges in partnership with the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Cyprus Investment Promotion Agency, as well as the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce in Australia. I will be particularly pleased to help facilitate a trade mission from Cyprus to Australia in the new year.

Your Excellency,

Please allow me to once again assure you of Australia’s resolute support of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Cyprus. Our long-standing policy is committed to a just and lasting solution to the Cyprus issue that reunifies the island in a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation with political equality and a single sovereignty, a single international personality, and a single citizenship.

As a good friend of Cyprus, Australia remains committed to supporting reunification efforts. I am particularly pleased that an Australian, Major General Cheryl Pearce AM, has recently been announced as the next Force Commander of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus. I have no doubt that Major General Pearce will continue the proud tradition of the more than 1,600 Australian policemen and policewomen who served and gave sacrifice for 53 years in the interests of peace on the island.

I also take pride in the fact that Australia’s support of peacemaking and inter-community understanding through the Cyprus Academic Dialogue will mark its tenth year in 2019. I look forward to observing this occasion with you next year in an appropriate manner.

There are many other examples of Australians and Cypriots working together to tackle shared challenges. Australian and Cypriot institutions are producing world-leading research in agriculture, renewable energy, viticulture and road safety. The work of scientists from The Cyprus Institute and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation is contributing toward a lower carbon future through the PROTEAS solar research facility in Pentakomo, which Your Excellency inaugurated. The drought and pest resistance of grape varieties from the Krasochoria Region is being analysed in laboratories in Adelaide. And Australian scholars continue work began in the 1930s to unearth and understand Cyprus’ rich archaeological heritage. Looking ahead, I am keen to work with your administration to extend these educational links to the undergraduate level, and to introduce the next generation of Cypriot scholars to the benefits of Australian education.

Your Excellency,

It is a rare honour and a great privilege to serve your country abroad. Indeed, I am twice blessed to be able to do so as Australian High Commissioner to the Republic of Cyprus, a country with whom Australia shares the deepest and warmest of friendships. I look ahead to my time on the island with great confidence that together, as friends, we will strengthen further the already deep bonds between our countries and peoples.”

Receiving the credentials, the President of the Republic said:

“Your Excellency,

It is with great pleasure that I receive today your Letters of Credence appointing you as the new High Commissioner of the Commonwealth of Australia to the Republic of Cyprus. Please accept my heartfelt congratulations for your appointment. I sincerely wish you every success in the accomplishment of your high duties and want to assure you that my Government will provide you with every assistance in the accomplishment of your mission. I personally look forward to working with you in further enhancing the traditionally friendly relations between our two countries.

Excellency,

Based on our shared principles and values of international peace, security, rule of law and respect of human rights, our two countries have over the years developed and established very cordial and close relations. Many Australians and Cypriots sacrificed their lives in the Second World War defending precisely these shared values, while Cyprus will never stop paying its respects to the Australian officers who served at UNFICYP from 1964 to 2017. At the same time, our fruitful cooperation in international organizations and bodies, particularly the United Nations and the Commonwealth, have broadened considerably our ties.

Our traditionally excellent relations are further enhanced by the active participation of many Cypriots – Australian citizens – in the political and economic affairs of Australia. During the 1960’s, tens of thousands of Cypriot citizens migrated to Australia in search for a better future, and in doing so they have become the bridge between Cyprus and Australia.

I avail myself of this opportunity to express my readiness to work closely with you in order to explore new fields of cooperation as well as deepening and enhancing existing ones, not only in the political, but also in the economic, maritime, energy and tourism fields. To this end, we anticipate that the Framework Agreement signed in August 2017 between the EU and Australia as well as the positive outcome of the Free Trade Agreement negotiations will provide the necessary boost to further strengthen both EU – Australia relations but also our bilateral relations. Cyprus greatly values its relations with Australia and we always stand ready to assist and work together for the mutual benefit of our countries and peoples.

Your Excellency,

The world appreciates the important role Australia plays, not just in the Pacific, but on the global stage especially on issues of peace and security. In difficult and turbulent times, when regrettably, hate and intolerance are promoted and rule the day with devastating results, your country sets the example as a pioneer of human rights and the rule of law. The work Australia carries out in areas such as climate change, development and food security are exemplary. We commend you for your far-sighted and result driven approach.

Excellency,

The Cyprus Economy is on a stable growth path to recovery. In fact, 2018 is the 4th consecutive year of positive real GDP growth, higher than the Euro area average, estimated at 3.8% for the whole year. The inflationrate is estimated at 0.5% for 2018 and the unemployment rate dropped at 8.4% in May 2018, recording the biggest annual unemployment decrease in the EU. The main policy objective of the Government is the full recovery of the economy and the creation of the necessary conditions for sustainable growth.

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, 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 UN Security Council resolutions and the framework set by the UN 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 UN Secretary-General to be in a position to resume the process.

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 a 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 can only be considered as truly independent and sovereign if it is 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 unfolding again upon us, taking into account, in a comprehensive manner and without being selective, the provisions set by the UN Secretary-General at the Conference in Crans Montana.

On my own behalf, I wish to reassure, 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.

Your Excellency,

In welcoming you to Cyprus, I would kindly request you to convey to the Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, His Excellency the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove and the people of your country, our warmest greetings and a message of sincere friendship and solidarity. Once more, I wish you every success in carrying out your duties.” 

AH/SCH