Cyprus constitutes today an international shipping power and an overall modern, quality and comprehensive shipping complex, President of the Republic of Cyprus has said.
Addressing Thursday evening the official dinner of the Cyprus Shipping Chamber, in Nicosia, President Christofias said that in more than 20 years of existence, the Cyprus Shipping Chamber has been transformed into a significant organisation with direct and active involvement in the country’s shipping affairs.
The Cypriot President referred to the occupation of Cyprus by Turkey since 1974, saying that “with the Cypriot flag flying across the globe, and Cyprus’ presence in international shipping organisations, the entity of the Republic of Cyprus is reinforced”.
“Moreover, the extensive presence of foreign investments in Cyprus creates conditions of enhanced security, while the foreign employees of shipping companies in Cyprus become the best envoys of our national problem abroad”, he went on to add.
President Christofias said that the shipping industry in Cyprus has managed, through timely and well-planned actions, to moderate the adverse effects of the world economic crisis.
“The Cypriot shipping industry has absorbed the negative results of the crisis and is looking towards the future”, he added.
Cyprus, he said, has the experience and the capabilities to continue to provide high-level shipping services and elevate further its position as an extremely significant shipping hub with state-of-the-art infrastructure.
“Furthermore, it can offer the necessary human resources which are of the highest business standards”, he pointed out.
President Christofias said that on the basis of a meticulously structured action plan, aiming at the constant offer of tax and other incentives, and always within the framework of EU regulations, Cyprus is at the threshold of a huge accomplishment on the international shipping scene.
The new shipping tax framework, he added, which will also be approved very soon by the European Union, will certainly provide additional momentum acting as a national counterbalance to the consequences of the international crisis.
Referring to the international problems faced by shipping and particularly the cases of piracy in the wider Indian Ocean, he said that Cyprus will continue working at all international fora to ensure that the necessary measures are taken to resolve this serious problem and for the principle of the Freedom of the Seas to be imposed.
“This principle is of vital importance for world trade and the international economy, in spite of the fact that the Cypriot shipping is still facing Turkey’s illegal embargo”, he concluded.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied its northern third.
Turkey is the only country in the world, which does not recognise the Republic of Cyprus.
Ankara refuses to comply with its EU obligation to open its ports and airports to vessel and aircraft flying the Cypriot flag.
The Cyprus Shipping Chamber is the trade association of the Shipping Industry in Cyprus.
Having witnessed considerable growth since its establishment in 1989, originally under the name Cyprus Shipping Council, with seventeen founding members, the Chamber today comprises all the major ship-owning, ship-management and shipping related companies based in Cyprus.
The members of the Chamber own and/or manage from Cyprus, approximately 2170 vessels exceeding 43 million gross tons, thus making it one of the largest national shipping associations in the world.
