The official visit to Kazakhstan is an indication of the recognition of the Republic of Cyprus’ enhanced role, President of the Republic Nikos Christodoulides has said.
This week’s official visit to Kazakhstan was “important,” President Christodoulides said, in statements to journalists on Sunday, 7 June, after attending a memorial service in the community of Emba, in Paphos, and responding to a journalist’s question about the Republic of Cyprus’ outreach to Central Asia. He said that his official visit to Astana was “an indication of the recognition of the upgraded role of the Republic of Cyprus and of our foreign policy, which is delivering very specific positive.
President Christodoulides noted that the foreign policy was also directly linked to developments at home. He recalled that he travelled to Astana on the first direct flight between Cyprus and Kazakhstan. “This is very important for attracting tourists and encouraging investment,” he said.
President Christodoulides also noted that he was accompanied by a strong business delegation.
“Several meetings took place, and there is interest on the part of Kazakhstan. We therefore have a very specific plan and strategy, both in domestic and foreign policy, which are closely interconnected. I am pleased by the positive response we are seeing and by the recognition of our country and of the standing of the Republic of Cyprus,” he added.
He further noted that this was the first visit by a President of the Republic of Cyprus to a country in what he described as “the Turkic region.”
He added that, by decision of the President of Kazakhstan, he was awarded a significant honour, “which I accepted on behalf of the Cypriot people, and we continue to build on these relations.”
He referred to his visit last May to India, noting that “more will follow”, which enhance the standing of the Republic of Cyprus, “support our major efforts at home and, at the same time, strengthen our negotiating position in relation to efforts to resolve the Cyprus issue.”
(Source: CNA)
