Press Releases

I wish at the outset to express my sincere thanks to the organizers, the Peace and Sport Organization and the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation, for the initiative to hold today’s event.

As Nelson Mandela once said: “Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire. It has the power to unite people in a way that little else does. Sport can create hope where once there was only despair.”

Today’s event fully adheres to these ideals, demonstrating that sports can be a valuable tool in promoting dialogue, cooperation and understanding between our two communities.

I am not here for a political speech but to send a strong message of hope and peace to both communities and the younger generations. 

It was originally planned for my dearest friend Mustafa Akinci to attend in order for both of us to send this common message. For the well-known reasons, he failed to attend. Despite any differences we may have with my friend Mustafa, he and I share a common vision for achieving lasting peace, stability and prosperous collaboration in our island through a comprehensive, viable and functional settlement to the Cyprus problem.

A settlement which will create a win-win situation for all Cypriots, address the expectations, sensitivities and concerns of both communities and ensure mutual respect and peaceful co-existence between all of its citizens; irrespective of their different ethnic, cultural and religious diversity.

We have the courage to recognize the mistakes of the past and realize the path we need to follow for the future. The current unacceptable status quo is not a sustainable option. It is only through achieving lasting security and stability for all that we can unleash the full potential of our country.

I would like to thank once again Peace and Sport for organizing this event and to welcome and congratulate the President of the organization, Mr Joël Bouzou, and the Vice President, Mr Didier Drogba, a football legend and a role model for millions of people, as well as the World Champion, Mrs Laurence Fischer.

You are indeed “Champions for Peace”, as stated in one of your fundamental founding pillars. I also wish to join your #White Card campaign today, demonstrating our commitment to peace efforts worldwide and our support for peace through the sport movement.

I would also like to praise my dear friend Stelios and his Philanthropic Foundation for upholding the values of peace and reconciliation in our island through, amongst others, promoting island-wide cooperation between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots.

In concluding, I congratulate the football players and the Boards of the two teams, Nea Salamina and Magusa Türk Gücü, for reminding us of the peaceful past when Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot teams used to compete in a spirit of mutual respect and fair play.

I hope in the very near future we will once again live the same good moments which the two communities used to enjoy in the past.

(RM/AH/SCH)