President Nicos Anastasiades expressed his determination to work hard for a peaceful solution to the Cyprus problem, saying after the end of the annual Independence Day parade on Wednesday that he was proud of the Cypriot armed forces, and hoped that the necessary conditions are created so that the armed forces will never have to intervene.
He expressed his determination to work hard in order to reach a peaceful solution to the Cyprus problem, that will meet the expectations and the “legitimate concerns of the European citizens of Cyprus, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots”, a viable and functional solution providing for a modern state which will guarantee the future of the new generations.
At the same time, he said, the anniversary is an opportunity for self-criticism and for the need to create prospects for a truly promising future.
Among the congratulatory messages that poured in, US Secretary of State John Kerry noted his country’s recent increased interest in Cyprus.
“In New York City last week, I had the opportunity to meet with President Anastasiades and Foreign Minister Kasoulides to discuss our shared challenges. We will continue to work closely together on initiatives to counter terrorism and promote regional security," he noted.
He also underlined "the strong partnership between our two countries", which as he said is "also reflected in the growing economic, cultural, and educational exchanges between our citizens".
"We look forward to deepening our commercial and people-to-people ties for the benefit of both Cypriots and Americans", Kerry noted.
During the first visit by a US Vice President in four decades earlier this year, Joe Biden said that the recent discovery of energy resources south of the shores of Cyprus, was a “game changer” that could act as a catalyst in finding a solution with Turkey, that continues to occupy 37% of the island since it invaded in 1974.
Meanwhile, Defence Minister Christoforos Fokaides and the outgoing Minister of National Defence of Greece Demetris Avramopoulos who was on the island on the occasion of the parade, signed a memorandum for crisis management.
Fokaides said that the memorandum provides for the exchange of information, the coordination of the actions of the crisis management services and measures for joint actions in defence and security.
