The British High Commission in Nicosia has organized an event to mark Queens Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee. The event took place in the House of British High Commissioner Matthew Kidd. President of the Republic of Cyprus Demetris Christofias, leaders and representatives of political parties and Ambassadors attended the event.
In his welcoming speech, Kidd referred to three thoughts relating Jubilees to Cyprus.
The first, he said, has to do with the land, the garden behind the House of Representatives that was gifted to the city of Nicosia from the British Authorities in 1897 to mark Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee. It is sad that these tough times of austerity do not leave the High Commissioner with a budget which would allow me to make a similar gesture in 2012, he added.
Matthew Kidd said that the Jubilee provides a measure of how much change there is over the years in Britain. “Times have changed, Britain as well. A prove of that change is that Cyprus not only became a member of the EU, but in two weeks time, undertakes the Presidency of the EU”, he said and wished every success to the Republic of Cyprus.
Finally, Kidd referred to the fashion in Cyprus, at the time of the Queen Elizabeth’s accession, for naming the newborn daughters Elisabeth or Alissavou, as he said.
He said that, with the help of Phileleftheros and Cyprus Weekly newspapers, they invited some of them in the event. “There is another Elizabeth, prominent in Cyprus’ life, who unfortunately is not here tonight. So, I hope the President will forgive me if I ask him to give to Mrs Elsie Christofias a small memento of this Jubilee of her namesake’s”, he concluded.
Receiving the present, Christofias wished to the people of Britain every success in their life.
Taking the opportunity from Kidd’s reference of the land that the British Authorities gifted to Nicosia in 1897, President Christofias said: “There is a possibility to convey to the Republic of Cyprus a piece of land, the land of British Bases”.