The President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, said during an award ceremony for his contribution to the Pontian Hellenism, held today in Glyfada, that after years of stagnation and deadlock on the Cyprus problem, a new start of the processes has become possible.
Christodoulides stressed that we are facing a new perspective “despite the negativity of the Turkish side and without overlooking any challenges” and added that Nicosia, always in consultation with the Greek government, is making every possible effort and exhausting every means to achieve a solution on the basis of the agreed framework, principles and values of the European Union.
Accepting the honorary title for his contribution to Pontian Hellenism, the President of the Republic said that the honor is to the Greeks of Cyprus. “Please know – and I say this with all awareness – that the honour to me is an honour to all your fellow Greeks of Cyprus. There is not a single Greek Cypriot who does not feel a shiver and emotion when he meets a Greek Overseas, when he is informed in various ways about the history, the sacrifices and hardships of the Pontian Hellenism, when he hears a Pontian song or when he watches Pontian dances. And I, as a Greek Cypriot, feel and experience the same when I am among you, when I refer to the issues of the Pontos, when I take part in events of remembrance and honour of the Pontian Hellenism. And the reason is obvious. Cyprus and Pontus are brothers in history and culture, brothers in faith and tradition, victims of Turkish atrocities and Turkish expansionism. Our drama is common, our struggle is common, our path is common”, he stressed.