President Nikos Christodoulides has said the government is working to restart Cyprus settlement negotiations while strengthening the country’s security, economy and international standing.
Delivering a eulogy at the annual memorial service for the heroes of Trikomo on Sunday, 18 October, the President said Cyprus was at a critical juncture amid continuing uncertainty in the wider region.
He said the government had set ambitious goals from the outset, seeking to demonstrate that the Republic of Cyprus could take initiatives, shape strategies and contribute to addressing regional challenges.
Christodoulides said efforts were continuing to strengthen the country’s deterrent capabilities, improve citizens’ sense of security, maintain economic resilience through responsible fiscal policy and address migration.
He described Cyprus as having a clear European and Western orientation and said it was taking an active role as a source of stability in a region of considerable geopolitical importance.
Strengthening that position, he said, also supported the government’s overriding objective of ending the occupation and reunifying the island.
Paying tribute to the two Trikomo heroes killed during the EOKA anti-colonial struggle of 1955–1959, the President said their example continued to inspire determination, responsibility and commitment to the country.
Cyprus has been divided since Turkey’s invasion in 1974. The last major round of UN-led settlement negotiations ended without agreement at Crans-Montana, Switzerland, in July 2017.
Source: Cyprus News Agency (CNA)
Photo: PIO