The Cypriot public administration will be the engine driving the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union, the President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, has said, expressing his belief that “as we responded successfully in 2012, we will do so now too”.
President Christodoulides was addressing a book presentation at the Presidential Palace, in Nicosia on 26 November.
“The need for continuous and bold reforms is at the heart of our priorities. Reforms, continuous reforms, the modernisation of institutions, the simplification of procedures, the abolition of structures that act as an impediment, but also the utilisation of levers of economic and social development of our country are a one-way street and - I repeat - are a top priority for our governance”, he pointed out.
The President of the Republic sent the message “that we should not view reforms with fear and anxiety, but as a process of evolution, as a process of modernisation that contributes to the reconstruction of our country and its transformation, always for the benefit of society.”
“The Republic of Cyprus completed 65 years of life this year. Our accession to the European Union 21 years ago, the most important diplomatic success of our country since its founding, was, I believe, the most significant change, the most important and essential change, which acted as a catalyst in the transformation of our country”, he stressed. Referring to the concern of the Turkish Cypriots that the Greek Cypriots will attempt to impose themselves on them in the context of a settlement of the Cyprus problem, he noted that “this is not allowed and cannot happen, nor do we have any such desire, but the European Union is the best safeguard for both the resolution of the Cyprus problem, but also for the implementation of a possible solution, responding to any concerns that exist”.
“Our accession, therefore, to an international and EU environment brought about structural changes in the Cypriot public administration as well. These changes have contributed decisively to the economic and social development of our country, as well as to the sustainability and competitiveness of our state”, he pointed out.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively.
(Source: CNA)
